419 scam: "Federal Ministry Of Finance"<press@bbbs.org> Are You Aware Of This New Development

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2348103675581

Fraud email example:

From: "Federal Ministry Of Finance" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrjohnsonwilliams11@googlemail.com>
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 06:21:11 -0700
Subject: Are You Aware Of This New Development

FROM THE DESK OF THE MINISTER

Hon (Mrs) OkONJO-IWELA

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE

5th Floor, Annex 3, New Federal Secretariat Complex, Shehu Shagari Way,

Central Area Lagos - Nigeria .

Good Day

Today Investigation on your payment file and reason for the delaying your own payment that was approved long ago.

Are you still ALIVE or DEAD? did you sign any deed of assignment in favor of Mrs Jocye Rice, from Florida Usa. thereby making him the current beneficiary of the approved fund.

Please if you did not sign or authorized Mrs Jocye Rice to receive your payment on your behalf, Kindly reconfirm to us your information for urgent release of your approved fund.

Do Reply immediately for confirmation as $12.3 Million has been approved in your favor for immediate payment. Call this office immediately you receive this message.

Regards

Barrister Johnson Williams.

Direct Cell: +2348103675581

Secretary to Hon (Mrs) OkONJO-IWELA.

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE

.......................................................................................................................................................

This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam