419 scam: FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION <drjohnnycrowson@hotmail.com> FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION WASHINGTON, DC

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "mtcn" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "huge amount of money" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "the consignment" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "consignment " (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +22999756729 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- robertmueller923@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION <drjohnnycrowson@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: robertmueller923@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2012 20:01:25 +0800 (CST)
Subject: FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION WASHINGTON, DC

FBI HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
FROM HEAD DEPARTMENT: MR.JOHN PIKUS FRANCIS DR.LINDA WILLIAMS AND CHIEF HON,SAM EIJKE CARL IIIANTI-TERRORIST AND MONETARY CRIMES DIVISIONFBI HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION.
FBI-WASHINGTON FIELD OFFICÂ robertmueller923@yahoo.com
601 4TH STREET, NW WASHINGTON, DC 20535
WEBSITE:Â WWW.FBI.GOV
ATTN: BENEFICIARY,
WE, OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. WE WRITE TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR CONSIGNMENT HAS BEEN IN OUR CUSTODY WAITING FOR YOUR COMPLY BEFORE THE DELIVERY WILL BE EFFECTED TO YOUR DELIVERY ADDRESS. WE CAUGHT A DIPLOMATIC CALLED AM MR. GEORGE, TNT DIPLOMATIC AGENT BENIN REPUBLIC Â AT (BIRMINGHAM-SHUTTLES WORTH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT) HERE WITH CONSIGNMENT BOX FILED WITH UNITED STATE DOLLARS. WHICH SUPPOSE TO DELIVER TO YOU MEANWHILE, BASE ON OUR INTERVIEW TO THE DIPLOMAT HE SAID THAT THE CONSIGNMENT BOX BELONGS TO YOU, THAT HE WAS SENT BY TNT COURIER COMPANY TO DELIVER THE CONSIGNMENT BOX TO YOUR DOORSTEP NOT KNOWING THAT THE CONTENT OF THE BOX IS MONEY. THE DIPLOMAT ALSO SAID THAT HIS FIRST TRANSIT IN THE STATE WAS AT CINCINNATI NORTHERN KENTUCKY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT OHIO.
NOW, THE DIPLOMAT IS UNDER DETENTION IN OUR OFFICE(FBI) SECURITY, AND WE CANNOT RELEASE HIM UNTIL WE CARRY OUT OUR PROPER INVESTIGATION ON HOW THIS HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY MANAGED TO BE YOURS BEFORE WE WILL RELEASE HIM WITH THE BOX. SO, IN THIS REGARDS YOU ARE TO REASSURE AND PROVE TO US THAT THE MONEY YOU ARE ABOUT TO RECEIVE IS LEGAL BY SENDING US THE AWARD OWNERSHIP CERTIFICATE SHOWING THAT THE MONEY IS NOT ILLEGAL.
AS A RESULT OF YOU NOT COMPLY WITHIN DURATION GIVEN BY BENIN GOVERNMENT THAT IS THE REASON THE CONSIGNMENT BOX WAS DIVERTED TO TREASURY. NOTE, THAT THE AWARD OWNERSHIP CERTIFICATE MUST TO BE SECURED FROM THE OFFICE OF THE SENATE PRESIDENT IN BENIN REPUBLIC, BECAUSE THAT IS THE ONLY OFFICE THAT WILL ISSUE YOU THE ORIGINAL AWARD OWNERSHIP CERTIFICATE OF THIS FUNDS SINCE IT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED THAT THE FUND WAS ORIGINATED FROM BENIN REPUBLIC.
AFTER THE MEETING HELD BY OUR BOARD OF DIRECTOR WHICH WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE DELIVERY OF YOUR CONSIGNMENT TO YOUR ADDRESS MUST BE COMPLETE TWO WORKING DAYS UPON YOUR COMPLY TO OUR REQUIREMENT WHICH IS BY SENDING THE SUM OF $98.00 TO ENABLE THEM OBTAIN THE NEEDED CERTIFICATE AND EFFECT WITH THE DELIVERY OF YOUR CONSIGNMENT IMMEDIATELY.
YOU ARE ADVISED TO FORWARD AWARD OWNERSHIP CERTIFICATE IF YOU HAVE IT WITH YOU, BUT IF YOU DID NOT HAVE IT WE WILL URGE YOU TO CONTACT BACK AND SEND THE $98 IF AT ALL YOU DID NOT HAVE THE AWARD OWNERSHIP CERTIFICATE. THE AWARD OWNERSHIP CERTIFICATE CHARGES WHICH WAS INITIALLY ON THE HIGH PRICE HAS BEEN CUT DOWN BY THE SENATE PRESIDENT Â MR.DAVID MARK CONSIDERING THE POOR ECONOMIC SITUATIONS THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS CITIZENS TO MEET UP WITH THE AWARD OWNERSHIP CERTIFICATE OF THEIR ENTITLEMENT.
FURTHERMORE, WE ARE GIVING YOU ONLY BUT 3 WORKING BUSINESS DAYS TO FORWARD THE REQUESTED AWARD OWNERSHIP CERTIFICATE. PLEASE NOTE THAT WE SHALL GET BACK TO YOU AFTER THE TWO WORKING BUSINESS DAYS, THAT IF YOU DIDNâ€™T COME UP WITH THE CERTIFICATE WE SHALL CONFISCATE THE FUNDS INTO WORLD BANK ACCOUNT THEN CHARGE YOU FOR MONEY LAUNDRY BECAUSE WE HAVE YOUR INFORMATION WITH THE DIPLOMAT HERE, BUT IF YOU FORWARD THE AWARD OWNERSHIP CERTIFICATE THEN WE WILL RELEASE THE DIPLOMAT WITH YOUR CONSIGNMENT BOX ALSO GIVES YOU EVERY BACK UP ON THE MONEY.
YOU ARE TO SEND THE $98 IN FAVOUR OF MR.IFEANYI EZEALA OF UNITED STATE AMERICA EMBASSY ACCOUNTANT OFFICER IN BENIN REPUBLIC AND GET BACK TO ME IMMEDIATELY WITH THE PAYMENT SO THAT MR.DAVID MARK OBTAIN THE NEEDED CERTIFICATE
IMMEDIATELY.
RECEIVER NAME.:;;;;MR.IFEANYI EZEALA
COUNTRY.: NIGERIAN REPUBLIC
CITY.:ABUJA
TEST QUESTION..:How Long?
ANSWER.:Today
AMOUNT.....$98 USD
SENDER'S NAME......
MTCN NUMBER.....

THANKS FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING, CO-OPERATION AND CONTINUED PATRONAGE.
FROM HEAD DEPARTMENT: MR.JOHN PIKUS FRANCIS AND CHIEF HON,JEFF ROBERT CARL III ANTI-TERRORIST WASHINGTON DC ANTI-TERRORIST AND MONETARY CRIMES DIVISION FBI HEAD QUARTERS IN WASHINGTON,FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION.
MR.JOHN PIKUS FRANCIS
TEL; +229-9975-6729
FBI DIRECTORÂ robertmueller923@yahoo.com
CHIEF HON,SAM EIJKE CARL III
FBI HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam