419 scam: "Mr Samuel Opokwu"<gh.minifinanceo@gmail.com> ATTN:Our Dear Esteem Beneficiary

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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:
- "transfer into your account" (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)
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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: "Mr Samuel Opokwu" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <gh.minifinance@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 00:47:55 -0700
Subject: ATTN:Our Dear Esteem Beneficiary

MINISTRY OF FINANCE GH
Member MINISTRY OF FINANCE GH Group,
Int'l Transfer Processing Dept.
Trust Towers, Asylum Down
PMB CCCI Cantonments,
Accra Ghana.

ATTN:Our Dear Esteem Beneficiary

RE: SWIFT TRANSFER OF US$2.5 MILLION INTEREST INTO YOUR ACCOUNT

I am the Head of Treasury Department of Ministry of Finance GH-ACCRA-GHANA.Sometime ago, your contract money was brought to our bank from

Economic Community of West African Foreign Contractor Payment Panel made of the following countries: -Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Senegal,

Ivory- Coast, Gambia, Mali, etc.(Ecowas). After some period, they recalled the fund back to their treasury.

For the period of time this fund has been in our bank, it has generated an interest of US$2.5 Million, which we consider must be paid to you

since you are one of the contractors that have not received his/her payment. As a matter of fact we the management of this bank has resolved

and decided to pay the interest of the fund via Swift Transfer into your account.

What we need from you now is any form of identification your international passport number or your driving license number, then your

telephone and fax number for easy communication.

In view of this you are hereby instructed to contact this office immediately you receive this message and reconfirm your banking

particulars. The MINISTRY OF FINANCE GH therefore apologize for any form of delay and inconvenience. We are poised to serve you better and

waiting to hear from you.

Cordially yours,
Mr Samuel Opokwu

ITP DEPT .
MINISTRY OF FINANCE GH

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam