419 scam: "Federal Bureau of Investigation" <info@fbi.gov.com> RE:Release of your Funds Ref:EA491-28-15

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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:
- "required fee " (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. )
- "you are required to pay " (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. )
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "robert mueller" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real FBI will not tell you to contact some email address. If you are in any doubt, contact an FBI field office via www.fbi.gov. )
- "@diplomats.com" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "cashier's check" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- drmichealezenwa@diplomats.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Federal Bureau of Investigation" <info@fbi.gov.com>
Reply-To: drmichealezenwa@diplomats.com
Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2015 06:52:00 -0700
Subject: RE:Release of your Funds Ref:EA491-28-15

Federal Bureau of Investigation
935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C.
REF:US/28028/8A28/11
=

=

ATTN: RECIPIENT
=

=

This is to officially inform you that we have completed our investigation
with the help of our Intelligence Monitoring Network System that your legal=
ly
acquired funds of $800,000.00 USD. has finally been released by the paying
agency outside the United States of America.
During our investigation we discovered that your money and transfer of this
funds had been placed on hold by corrupt officials of these agencies.
Normally, it will take up to 10 business days for an International Check
to be cashed by your local banks. We have successfully notified this company
on your behalf that your funds is to be withdrawn from a registered bank
within the United States of America in order to enable you cash the check
instantly without any further delay,henceforth the stated amount of $800,00=
0.00 USD.
has been deposited with Bank Of America.
We have completed this investigation and you are hereby
approved to receive your money because we have verified the entire
transaction to be Safe and 100% risk free, due to the fact that the
funds have been deposited with the Bank Of America,
you will be required to settle the following bills directly to the
Agent in-charge of this transaction whom is located in south Africa
according to our discoveries, you are required to pay for the following -
Deposit Fee's (Fee's paid by the company for the deposit into an American =
Bank =

which is - Bank of America)
=

Cashier's Check
Conversion Fee (Fee for converting the Wire Transfer payment into a Certif=
ied Cashier's Check)
=

The total amount is $520.00 (Five Hundred and twenty USD.) We attempted in =
deducting the required fee of $520 from the funds =

but we realized that the money had already been deposited at Bank Of Americ=
a and cannot be accessed by anyone except the legal owner (you); therefore =
you will be required to pay for this services if you wish to have your Cert=
ified Cashier's Check delivered to you.
In order to proceed with this transaction, you will be required to contact=
the agent in-charge =

(Dr Micheal Ezenwa)via e-mail.
Kindly look below to find appropriate contact information:
CONTACT AGENT NAME: Dr Micheal Ezenwa
E-MAIL ADDRESS: drmichealezenwa@diplomats.com
=

You will be required to e-mail him the filled out release document attache=
d to this email correspondence with the following information:
FULL NAME:
ADDRESS:
CITY:
STATE:
ZIP CODE:
DIRECT CONTACT NUMBER:
=

You will also be required to request the transfer details on how to send t=
he required $520.00 for immediate delivery of your Certified Cashier's Chec=
k valued at $800,000.00 USD drawn
from Bank of America,kindly include the following Fund Reference Identific=
ation : EA2948-910.
=

This letter will serve as proof that the Federal Bureau Of Investigation i=
s authorizing you to pay the required $520.00 ONLY to AGENT Dr Micheal Ezen=
wa via the confidential information that he will provide to you,
if you do not receive your Certified Cashier's Check valued at $800,000.00=
we shall be held responsible for the loss and this shall invite a penalty =
of $3,000 which will be made PAYABLE ONLY to you (The Beneficiary).
=

=

Please find below an authorized signature which has been
signed by the FBI Public Affairs
Director - Robert Mueller
..........................................................................=
....................................
NOTICE TO RECIPIENTS:The information contained in and accompanying this co=
mmunication may be confidential, subject to legal privilege, or otherwise p=
rotected from disclosure, and is intended solely for the use of the intende=
d recipient(s). If you are not the intended recipient of this communication=
, please delete and destroy all copies in your possession, notify the sende=
r that you have received this communication in error, and note that any rev=
iew or dissemination of, or the taking of any action in reliance on, this c=
ommunication is expressly prohibited.
..........................................................................=
....................................

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam