419 scam: MONETARY CRIMES DIVISION <williabiney@gmail.com> HELLO

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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. )
- "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. )
- "anti-money laundering 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. )
- "million 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)
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: MONETARY CRIMES DIVISION <williabiney@gmail.com>
Reply-To: fbi.gov.us123@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 12 May 2022 11:05:58 +0100
Subject: HELLO

Anti-Terrorist and Monetary Crimes Division.
Federal Bureau Of Investigation.
J. Edgar. Hoover BuildingWashingtonD.C
http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/wanted_by_the_fbi

Attention,

With all due respect my name is Christopher A. Wray the Director of
Federal Bureau Of Investigation (FBI) We hereby inform you that I have
respected you a lot concerning your ATM CARD that is worth US$10.5
million Dollars which is in our office here in Washington Dc.

Whatever, we give you 24hrs to pay the Anti-Money Laundering
Certificate which cost $250 Dollars and remember to pay it through
Gift Card like iTunes Gift Cards or Steam Wallet Gift Cards and
remember to buy the card each $100
Dollars or send the fee $250 from Ria or Western Union.

Send the copy's of the Google Play Card or steam wallet card $250 Dollars here.

After you send the fee $250, send us the copy and your home address to
received the US$10.5 million dollars today from (United State Local
Post office)

Full Name:
Your City:
Your Phone:
Your Home Address:
Nearest Airport:::

Don't say that we did not warn you because we will start taking any
action after 24 hrs expires.

Thanks once again and also thanks for your understanding.
Now we will wait for your update message immediately and remember to
act accordingly to avoid being in trouble with us.

Best Regards,
FBI Director

Christopher A. Wray, III.
Executive Director
Federal Bureau of Investigation
J. Edgar Hoover Building
935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C.
20535-0001, USA

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam