419 scam: "Mr Christopher A. Wray" <"www."@fbi.com> Attention !!

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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:
- "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. )
- "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)
- "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)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Christopher A. Wray" <"www."@fbi.com>
Reply-To: "FBI DIRECTOR " <fbi.washingtondc_departmentalservice@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Jan 2018 09:56:35 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attention !!

Federal Bureau of Investigation United States Department Of Justice, 935 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., in the United States.

I, Christopher A. Wray is hereby announcing to you that your ATM VISA CARD worth $10.700.000.00usd received at JFK airport since year 2017 from Benin Republic government authorities and Every necessary fees/charges has been paid by senders except $250.00 for CCC custom clearance certificate but a Lady Mrs. Jane Frederick came forward and claimed you sent her to claim your $10,700,000.00 because you are dead that you are having kidney problem in a process of surgery you died .Did you order her to pay for Custom Clearance Certificate (CCC) to claim your fund ATM VISA CARD ? Also be informed that we came to an agreement with the U.S Custom Authority at (JFK) John F. Kennedy Int'l Airport NYC that you will send $250.00 latest tomorrow morning.

This is to bring to your notice that we have just been informed through secrete source that the U.S Custom Authority at (JFK) John F. Kennedy International Airport New York are making arrangement to have your contract fund wired into the Bank account of Mrs. Jane Frederick, the lady that contacted them, earlier and presented some documentations evidencing your claim purported to have being signed personally by you for the release of your contract fund to her, since you have chose to ignore their messages and refuse to pay the required $250 for Custom Clearance Certificate charges as imposed, despite the advise we gave to you.

I want to personally assure you once again that you will have every course to smile and be happy upon conclusion of this project, as we will continue monitoring all your services with them at all level as well as your correspondence, until you have received your ATM VISA CARD accordingly. As a LEGAL OWNER, we are here to protect your interest and that is the reason why we are doing all we can to make sure all goes well, this is a huge amount of money which we don't wish for you to lose.

All we want you to do right now is to send the money with the name listed below so we can forward it to Benin Republic Customs authority to help us bobtail the Custom Clearance Certificate and the diplomat will make the delivery to your home address tomorrow morning by 9:00 AM

Receiver's Data / information:
Receivers First Name: Larry
Receivers Second Name: UBA
Country: Benin Republic
City : Cotonou
Text Question: Urgent
Answer: Urgent
Amount: $250
Sender s Name...MTCN#...
try and make the payment through money gram via transfer
contact me (202) 844-7255

Contact us right away and let me know when you send the charges as we discussed with them to enable them route your fund to you with immediate effect. This is a life time opportunity and we will advise you take advantage of it, before it is too late to do so.

Best Regards,
Christopher A. Wray
FBI DIRECTOR
BADGE â€“ FN 05 A017
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20535

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam