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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: FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE <ministeryoffinnance@gmail.com>
Reply-To: minister_of.finance@live.com
Date: Wed, 4 Jan 2012 14:16:44 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: GREETINGS FROM FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE DATED 4TH JANUARY 2012!







FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE.
Office of the
Minister of Finance
12 LEKKI PENNINSULA, COTONOU-BENIN REPUBLIC.
TEL: +
22998124803. . (Hot-Line)
Ref: FMF/MGH/419/07
 
 
ATTN:Kindly read your notice
below,
 
Release/Transfer Notice for
your due Funds (US$1,500,000.00).It is very important that the recipient of this
Letter should call this office in order to confirm it to us that this very
Letter was received by the true beneficiary. You are advised to read this Letter
very carefully because every paragraph explains what you need to know about the
Release and Transfer of your due Funds.
 
At this point, we wish to advice
you to stop all further contact with any person or office(s) whom is not
recommended by this Ministry. Our Intelligence Monitoring Unit (I.M.U), Code of
Conduct Bureau, Legal Unit and The Benin Republic Police Force (B.R.F) have
already apprehended some of those suspects whom attempted to divert your
Funds.
 
As the honourable Minister of Benin Republic, I work on behalf of
the Paying Bank of Benin (FIDELITY BANK) under the supervision of the honourable
President of The Federal Republic of Benin.
 
We have acknowledged your
previous email response and to that effect we are glad to announce it to you
today that the honourable President of The Federal Republic of Benin and the
Accountant General of the Federation have collectively Approved and signed the
Order to Release and Transfer being the certified documentation authorizing us
(The Federal Ministry of Finance) to credit your nominated Bank
Account.
 
A copy of the Order to Release and Transfer have been forwarded
to our international remittance department for the onward crediting of your
Funds. In other words, we put it to you that we are ready to remit your said
Funds into your choiced Bank Account because we have a 3-5working days time
constrain to Pay-off each beneficiary short-listed to be Paid by this Ministry.
Our Legal Unit have already reviewed your Payment Files and they have passed it
on to my desk for me to Pay you accordingly,
 
so be rest assured that you
will receive your due Funds as soon as possible. Officially, you will receive
your due Funds via an "Electronic Wire Transfer" which will enable your Funds
reflect in your choiced Bank Account within 48hrs after effect.
 
This
mode of Payment is defined as one of the best and safest mode to remit huge
Funds internationally as it is absolutely different from the usual swift
transfer which takes longer time. Most Banks within the United States of
America, Europe and other developed countries operate with the "Electronic Wire
Transfer" for international transfers because it is a recent innovation in the
Banking industry.
 
Certainly we shall transfer your valued US$1,500,000
from the Sundry/ Suspense Account of the Federal Government of Benin being the
official Account for international/ foreign Payments/debts. A Sundry/Suspense
Account can be defined as a secret Account owned by a government and operated by
certain assigned government officials being the authorized signatories whom must
sign before Funds can be remitted from such account. For this very account no
form of direct withdrawals can be made from it except a Bank to Bank wire
transfer which must be Approved by the honourable President being the principal
signatory to the account. Consequent to the fact that I am responsible to Pay
you, it is still my duty to enligthen you on the accurate steps to take in order
for you to gain full possession of this said Funds being Approved in your
name.
 
In the combat against fraud, Funds divertion and Funds delay, we
have re-lenghtly ensured that several foreign beneficiaries have been Paid
accordingly in order to retain and rekindle our country's reputation on the
global map because this recent government dispensation is focused and targeted
to relieve all foreign debts as mandated by The Senate, The National House of
Assembly,
 
 The Federal Executive Council (F.E.C), Code of Conduct Bureau
and The Federal Ministry of Finance (F.M.F). Already, a lot of foreign
beneficiaries have been Paid by this Ministry so your's will not be an exception
considering the fact that the honourable President have Approved your due Funds
today dated 4th Jan. 2012.
 
In accordance to section (1) paragraph 9 of
the Settlement Edict Law 1999 of The Federal Republic of Benin, it is imperative
that you provide us with the below listed information so that we can Pay
you.
 
1. Bank Name and Address.
2. Bank Account Number.
3. Account
Holder's Full Name.
4. Routing Number/Swift Code (very important).
5. Your
Residential Address.
6. Your mobile or home telephone Number.
7. A form of
identification (I.D Card or Driver's License) is also required for
official
references.
 
Also you are requested to pay the fixed sum of USD$96.00
being fee for administrative and final processing of your funds transfer which
will be paid through WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER in the name of our cashier
information bellow.
 
We shall effect transfer of your payment into your
designated bank account upon the receipt of your receiving bank account details
and the $96 payment from you.
 
Receivers Name: Amaechi E.
Okonkwo
Country .Benin republic
City  Cotonou
Test Question: In
God
Answer: We trust
Amount: $96
Senders Address
Sender
name.................
 
This Official Letter is being issued to you by
"The Federal Ministry of Finance" in collaboration with The Presidency. 

 
The Accountant General of The Federation. Fidelity Bank Plc
The
President's office.

Yours Sincerely,
DR.JAMES A. GOODLUCK.
Minister Of
Finance
Federal Republic Of Benin.
Direct Tel:
+22998124803.

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