419 scam: "Fred Jones"<fredjjones@gmx.com> Your Payment Release Instructions

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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:
- ",500,000" (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)
- "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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Fred Jones" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <fred.jones@xfl777.pw>
Date: Sat, 21 May 2016 16:35:33 +0700
Subject: Your Payment Release Instructions

Federal Bureau of Investigation
J. Edgar Hoover Building
935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20535-0001,
http://www.fbi.gov
JAMES B. COMEY
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FBI.

Attention Worthy Beneficiary,

Payment Release Instruction from the Federal Bureau of Investigation:

The Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in conjunction with
some other relevant Investigation agencies in the world nation such
as:

International Metropolitan Police
Central Intelligence Agency
Internet and Fraud Complaint Center
Justification office of the Money Laundry

Have hereby given this irrevocable approval order for your outstanding
contract/inheritance payment valued at US$5.5M which was fully
endorsed in your favor accordingly.

It's been suggested and concluded that it is better; your funds are
given to you via online banking. This means that you can be at the
convenience of your office or house and carry out transfer of funds
gradually to any account you want. Also the bank with online facility
can give you funds via ATM cards depends on your request.

The essence of doing this is because of the inherent difficulties in
international funds remittance from the formal banks/offices handling
the transactions since. The concerned authorities did not want you to
have such an ugly experience anymore hence the arrangement was made to
release the funds to you through Citibank New York.

I very much appreciate your patience and hope that you will continue
to be. Note; the total sum of Five million Five Hundred thousand US.
Dollars (US$5,500,000.00) shall be release to you by Citibank New
York.

Get back to me for your reference and allocation number to contact Citibank New York.
I once more thank you for your patience and understanding, while I
look forward to hearing from you soon.

Thanks once again for your kind co-operation.

I shall be waiting to hear from you.

Best Regards
Fred Jones,
FBI Financial Agent.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam