419 scam: "FBI OFFICE"<noreply@fbi.com> FBI HEADQUARTERS

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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "uk national lottery" (can only win this lottery if you bought a ticket)
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "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 fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
1. They don't notify winners by email.
2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!

Fraud email example:

From: "FBI OFFICE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <fbiteam44@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Wed, 8 Jun 2022 21:31:16 -0700
Subject: FBI HEADQUARTERS

ANTI-TERRORIST AND MONETARY CRIMES DIVISION
FBI HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON, DC
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
J. EDGAR HOOVER BUILDING
935 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW
WASHINGTON, DC 20535-0001

Dear Winner!!

We have finally completed an investigation with the help of our Intelligence Monitoring Network System, Your email address was among the emails that won last year's UK National Lottery Award that you did not claim. One of the banker worker where your fund was deposited arrange with his friend to come as the owner of your Email in which they claim your winning fund, We have recovered your fund with the help of our Intelligence Monitoring Network System and your winning fund of US$800,000.00 (Eight Hundred Thousand US Dollars) has been recovered and will be transferred to you as soon as possible.
It has come to the attention of the FBI that you have a fund of 800,000.00 US Dollars on your name, the said payment is awaiting adjudication and we have authorized this winning to be released to you immediately, this fund is from the UK National Lottery.
Re-confirm, Names, Address, Phone Number, Age / sex, Occupation and Country, to avoid double claim of your fund.
If you receive any email from an unknown sender that you did not understand, please forward it to us for verification and to protect you from being cheated by fraudsters.

YOUR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE IS NEEDED.

Yours sincerely,
Christopher A Wray

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam