419 scam: "Federal Ministry of Finance, Headquarters"<citibank@london.com> Federal Ministry of Finance, 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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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)
- "abuja" (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: "Federal Ministry of Finance, Headquarters" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <today@emailclick.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:50:21 -0700
Subject: Federal Ministry of Finance, Headquarters,

Federal Ministry of Finance, Headquarters,
Ahmadu Beillo Way,
Central Business District,
P.0.Box 41,Garrki,
Abuja, Nigeria

Attn:

Attn: Sir,

I write to inform you that Am DR.MANSUR MUHTAR the current Honourable minister of
finance federal republic of Nigeria. I wish to use this medium to tell you that I saw
your file on my desk this afternoon.

The content of the files made me to understand that you are supposed receive a huge amount of money
from one of the various financial institutions here in Africa as part of your contract sum or inheritance.

I also received a series of reports from so many organizations and also from the
Ex-finance minister narrating that you have been making some illegal communications
with some impostors.

Before, I will resume my duty as a minister in this regards, I want you to tell me
every truth about the whole matter.

I will not like a copy of this message to be reviewed to any party, a lot of
reports has been brought forward to my office.

You can go through our official website for more details:
http://www.fmf.gov.ng/FMF_HMF_Profile.aspx

Honorable Minister of Finance
Dr. Mansur Muhtar OFR

Finally I have to advise you to forward to this office all the emails you have receieved from these imposters.

I will look forward to receive more emails from you.

Yours Faithfully
Dr. Mansur Muhtar (OFN)
Minister of Finance
Federal Republic of Nigeria

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam