419 scam: "FBI Director" <simon@theseasonstandard.de> Greeting From FBI Headquarters Washington DC 20535-0001

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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:
- "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)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "headquater" (this email uses bad English)
- "fbi washington" (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. )
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "the diplomat " ("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.
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.
- fbiheadquater1@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "FBI Director" <simon@theseasonstandard.de>
Reply-To: fbiheadquater1@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 4 Aug 2020 13:57:12 +0200
Subject: Greeting From FBI Headquarters Washington DC 20535-0001

Greeting From FBI Headquarters Washington DC 20535-0001

The Federal bureau of investigation FBI Washington DC believe you received
the previous message we sent to you, prior to your dealings with the US
Custom Authority at (JFK) John F. Kennedy International Airport New York
as regards to your over-due contract payment
consignment trunk box worth $8,000.000.00 (Eight million us dollars only)
which was endorsed in your favor and like we stated earlier, we have dully
screened through this project as stipulated on our protocols of operation
and have finally confirmed that your contract
payment is 100 % genuine and hitch free from all facet and of which you
have the lawful right to claim your fund without any further delay.

This is to let you know that we have just been informed through secrete
source that the US 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 documentation's 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 $320
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 Metal Trunk Box
accordingly. As a lawful legal owner we are hereby to protect your
interest and that is the reason why we are doing all we can to make sure
all goes well because this is a huge amount of money which we do not wish
for you to lose .

We understand that the imposed fee might be too much for you to pay so to
further make things easier for you, we have discussed with the US Custom
Authority at (JFK) John F. Kennedy International Airport New York pleaded
on your behalf for them to give you the grace of sending half of the
charges $160 for now after which the Diplomatic Agent delivery your
consignment trunk box to you then once you receive your fund you can then
pay the balance $160. All we want you to do right now is to send the half
of the money with the name listed below so we can forward it to Benin
Republic Customs authority to help us obtain the Custom
Clearance Certificate and the diplomat will make the delivery to your home
address tomorrow morning.

SEND VIA MONEY GRAM ONLY

Receiver Name: Chike Ugoji
City: Lagos
Country: Nigeria
Text Question: How Long
Text Answer: 24hours
Amount: $160

Sender's Name
MTCN

Contact us right away and let us know when you send half of 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 It is too late to do
so.

Also we are informed that we came to an agreement with the US Custom
Authority at (JFK) John F. Kennedy International Airport New York that you
will be sending half of the fee latest before the end of tomorrow. So
please we will advise that you send the fee right away
because if you fail to do that, then they will have no other choice than
to release your fund to Mrs Jane Frederick who is ready to work with them
and that am sure will be a very great loss to you as we You will not be
able to help you then,

CLICK ON REPLY, TO REPLY BACK TO ME DIRECT, and do not forget to give me
your direct mobile line for private communication.
All the messages you have been receiving from those low life fake peoples
were from her the same group of fake members only to confuse you. To Visit
FBI Headquarters / Tours. Our Headquarters is located between 9th and 10th
Streets in northwest Washington, DC The closest Metro subway stops are
Federal Triangle on the Orange / Blue lines,
Gallery Place / Chinatown and Metro Center on the Red line, and
Archives / Navy Memorial on the Yellow and Green lines
E-MAIL:fbiheadquater1@gmail.com

Yours in service,
Christopher A. Wray
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
WASHINGTON, DC 20535-0001

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam