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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "Internet Crime Complaint Center FBI" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <internet_crime_complaint.center_fbi@usa.com>
Date: Sun, 11 Nov 2018 02:56:40 -0800
Subject: On this day 11/11/2018 did you authorize claim?

INTERNET CRIME COMPLAINT CENTER (IC3)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION FBI WASHINGTON DC
WEBSITE: http://www.IC3.gov/
Email: internet_crime_complaint.center_fbi@usa.com
Office lTelephone: +1(224)208-8623
 
Attention
 
We the Federal Bureau of Investigations Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) in conjunction with some other relevant security Agencies here in the United States of America have recently been informed through our Global intelligence monitoring network that you presently won on the online FaceBook Promo which is still available.
 
It might interest you to know that we have taken our time in screening through this winning promo notification as stipulated on our protocol of operation, and have finally confirmed that your winning is 100% genuine and legal with due process of law, and it is as well free from all illegal activities, which you have the lawful right to claim your winning without any further delay. Having said all this, we will further advise, that you should change your Facebook email account password before you go ahead in dealing with the Facebook clearing agent office accordingly as we will be monitoring all their services accordingly with our intelligent monitoring network device, and with your cooperation.
 
Furthermore, we want to place this on your notice that we recently had a meeting with the founder and CEO of Facebook Mr. Mark Zuckerberg, in person Mr. Mark Zuckerberg along with some of the top officials of the Ministry regarding your case and they made us to understand that your file is pending until when you personally come for the claim. They also told us that the only problem they are facing right now is that some unscrupulous element are using this project as an avenue to scam innocent people off their hard earned money by impersonating the name of the Founder and CEO of Facebook.
 
We were also made to understand that the lady named Mrs. Viviana Bailey from Los Angeles and another person also named as Mr. Machovelle whom reside in South Carolina are still contacting the Facebook and also presented to them all the necessary documentations evidencing your claims, claiming to have been signed personally by you prior to the release of your winning fund valued US$10,000,000.00 (Ten Million United States Dollars), but the Facebook did the wise thing by insisting on hearing from you personally before they go ahead on wiring your winning fund to the Bank information which was forwarded to them by the above mentioned names, the main reason, we the Federal Bureau of Investigation were contacted by the Facebook Head Department, is to assist them on making some investigation regards to this issue and also help them search for your personal email so that they can contact you directly to know if you authorized anyone to claim your funds for you.
 
Once again we will advise you to change your email account password right away for security purpose so that you can feel safe contacting the Facebook claim office for the release of your winning funds and do not click on any link stated in any email that we do not authorized you to contact in regards to any funds transaction because once you click on this links, the hackers/impostors will have access to your email account and also monitor your funds transaction.
 
The Facebook CEO further informed us that we should inform our citizens, who must have been informed of the Facebook winning promo which was awarded to them from the Facebook Head Department for being a partaker of their world, to be very careful prior to these irregularities so that they do not fall victim to scam. We the FBI are instructing you personally, that if you were already dealing with anybody/office claiming to be from the Facebook or any Bank, you are further advised to STOP further contact with them in your best interest and then forward their email to us for proper investigation, contact the real office of the Facebook online promo department in charge of your winning, only with the below information accordingly:
 
FaceBook CEO: Mr. Mark Zuckerberg
Claim Agency: Mr. James Gosnell
OFFICE ADDRESS: Facebook HeadQuarters, 1 Hacker Way Menlo Park, California, 94025 United States.
Email: (facebookofficialemail@consultant.com)
 
The Facebook Head Office, informed us the FBI, that they are through with the first (1st) quarter transfer to beneficiaries/winner, and that the CEO Mr. Mark Zuckerberg, has instructed the remittance department to head to the second (2nd) quarter transfer to beneficiaries/winners where your payment file belongs to now, note that Mr. Mark Zuckerberg the CEO of Facebook Company instructed us to release all funds to the winners immediately we confirm that we are dealing with the right beneficiary/winner.
 
Your award is attached to a Lucky Number (FB-225-7736), Ticket Number (FB-172-60), Batch Number (FB-0281/544) and Serial Number (99352748-2018), Note them down now on a safe place and keep it very important, once again any e-mail you receive henceforth that we do not authorized you to contact. Should be disregarded immediately and forwarded to us for immediate investigation. Any e-mail that you receive stating another Bank and amount should be disregarded and forwarded to us immediately. This will help us fight against Fraudsters.
 
Meanwhile, we will advise you to contact the Facebook claim office immediately with the above email address which is stated here also (facebookofficialemail@consultant.com) and request that they attend to your payment file as directed so as to enable you claim your winning fund accordingly. Ensure you follow all their procedure as required by them in order to hasten Up the effective procedures, of transferring your funds to you as designated by you. Also have in mind that the Facebook online promo equally have their own protocol of operation as stipulated on their Lottery realm, so any delay could be very dangerous.
 
Once again, we will advise you to change your email password and contact the claim agency via email (facebookofficialemail@consultant.com) with your ticket number (FB-172-60) and make sure you forward to them all the necessary information which might be required from you prior to the release of your winning fund. All modality has already been worked out even before you were contacted and note, that we will be monitoring all your dealings with them as you proceed so you don't have anything to worry about. All we require from you henceforth is an update so as to enable us be on track with you and the Facebook. Without wasting much time, we want you to contact them immediately with the above email address so as to enable them attend to your case accordingly without any further delay as time is already running out.
 
Should in case you need any more information in regards to this notification, feel free to get back to us so in order to brief you more, because we are here to guide you and serve you better during and after this winning fund has been completely perfected. Thanks, for your anticipated cooperation in advance as we earnestly await your urgent response to this matter.
 
Best Regards,
Andrew George McCabe
Executive Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
J. Edgar Hoover Building
935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington , D.C.
20535-0001, USA.
IN GOD WE TRUST.
Email: internet_crime_complaint.center_fbi@usa.com
Office Line: +1(224)208-8623

Anti-fraud resources: