419 scam: "Mr. James Comey" <teresaisaliar.77.961@gmail.com> FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI)

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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:

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:
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "western union" (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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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)
- "million us dollars" (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)
- "economic and financial crimes commission" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "(efcc)" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. James Comey" <teresaisaliar.77.961@gmail.com>
Reply-To: fbi.washington002@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2015 11:45:25 +0100
Subject: FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI)

*FBI HEADQUARTER ANTI-TERRORIST AND MONITORY CRIMES DIVISION
FBIHEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. USAFEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
(FBI)HEADQUARTER ADDRESS: EDGAR HOOVER BUILDING 935 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE,
NWWASHINGTON, D.C. 20535-0001Attention my dear:*

*We have this morning discovered that you have been making foreign illegal
transactions with Western Unions, Money Grams, Diplomatic Agents and Banks
with West African Countries (Benin, Nigeria, Ghana etc.). We went further
with the investigations and found out that you don't have Money Laundering
Clearance Certificate,which is a major Federal Offense. You have violated
the Federal Law, which constituted against smuggling of large amount of
money and trafficking of drug e.t.c, without having Money Laundering
Clearance Certificate before you commenced the transaction. You want to
receive such huge amount of money from Western Union Headquarter Nigeria
which is a foreign transaction. Meanwhile we have stopped the payment, not
only the $5,000 US Dollars was stopped but the total ($7.5 million US
Dollars)Furthermore, be advised that according to the FEDERAL Law
Enforcement Agency together with the FBI rules and regulations, you are to
obtain the document from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) Here in Nigeria which is the origin of the fund in question. Also
Note that you are to take care of the document to be issued to you right
away,because due to the contents of the document and how importance and
secured the document is, you are to take care of the document by sending
the sum of $195 US Dollars only to the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC for issuing of the document right away and your payment
will be release to you by the legally recognized office. That is the only
way the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,will issue you the
document, because they are going to issue you the Authentic and Original
copy of the documents. Note that your rights are limited; anything you SAY
or DO will be used as evidence against you in the court of Law.You have the
full rights to remain silent and obey the Law. Don't think we don't know
you or your address. We will get you arrested if you fail to provide the
document or pay for it to be obtained from The Origin. The Arrest Warrant
can only be withdrawn once the document is obtained. There are three
charges against you, which are:1. Smuggling of a huge amount of money
without Money LaunderingClearance Certificate is a violation to Federal
Law.2. Smuggling of a huge amount of money without a proper documentationis
a violation 2003 Federal Constitution, otherwise, called
illegaltransaction.3. it's a Conspiracy, a Criminal Attempt and
Disobedience to theFederal Law, which will eventually lead you to 3-year
imprisonment.You Should Send The Money Direct Through Western Union or
Money Gram To The Country Of Origin Of The Fund In Question:Receivers Name:
EMMA UZOLocation Address: Lagos,NigeriaTest Question: Urgent?Answer:
TodayAmount .. $195Sender's Name:Sender Address:MTCN:WARNING: Failure to
pay for this documentation is a confirmation that you wanted to smuggle the
funds is a federal offense and a gross violation of the Patriot Act and
legal action will be taken immediately by arresting and detaining you and
if found guilty, you will be jailed...... As terrorism, drug trafficking
and money laundering is a serious problem in our community today. The F.B.I
will not stop at any length in tracing down and prosecuting any criminal
who indulge in this criminal act.Terrorist WASHINGTON Dc-anti-Terrorist and
Monetary Crimes Division FBI Headquarters In Washington, D.C. Federal
Bureau Of Investigation Fishier: US-FBI-Shaded Seal.svg*

*Your Faithfully,Mr. James Comey , Director of Federal Bureau of
Investigation, FBI.CC.TO: FBI WEB SITE Supreme Court of the United StatesU.
S. Courts of AppealsU. S. District CourtsU. S. Circuit CourtsCourts of
Special Jurisdiction:Bankruptcy CourtsCourt of Claims, 1855 - 1982U. S.
Court of Federal Claims, 19*

Anti-fraud resources:

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