419 scam: "Federal Ministry of Finance" <mail@centbank.org> PAYMENT AUTHENTICATION

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "my direct line" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
- "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.
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.
- +2348060272032 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Federal Ministry of Finance" <mail@centbank.org>
Reply-To: enquirydept12@live.com
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:43:31 -0200
Subject: PAYMENT AUTHENTICATION

FROM THE DESK OF
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE,
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.
1A AKINTOLA WAY GARRKI ABUJA.
EMAIL: fedfinanceministry30@live.com
CELL PHONE: +234-806-027-2032

RE:PAYMENT AUTHENTICATION.

I AM DR USMAN SHAMSUDEEN. THE FINANCE MINISTER OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA,MY
OFFICE MONITORS AND CONTROLS THE AFFAIRS OF ALL BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
IN NIGERIA CONCERNED WITH FOREIGN CONTRACT PAYMENTS.

I AM THE FINAL SIGNATORY TO ANY TRANSFER OR REMITTANCE OF HUGE FUNDS MOVING
WITHIN BANKS BOTH ON THE LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS IN LINE TO FOREIGN
CONTRACTS SETTLEMENT.

I HAVE BEFORE ME LIST OF FUNDS, WHICH COULD NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO SOME FOREIGN
INDIVIDUAL/ORGANIZATION AND I WANT TO USE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WRITE YOU BASED ON
THE INSTRUCTIONS I RECEIVED RECENTLY FROM THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON CONTRACT
PAYMENTS /FOREIGN DEBTS TO SUBMIT THE LIST OF PAYMENT REPORTS EXPENDITURES AND
AUDITED REPORTS OF REVENUES.

AMONG SEVERAL OTHERS, I HAVE DECIDED TO REMIT THIS SUM FOLLOWING MY IDEA THAT WE
HAVE A DEAL/AGREEMENT AND I AM GOING TO DO THIS LEGALLY.

MY CONDITIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS.

1. YOU WILL TAKE 50% OF YOUR CONTRACT FUNDS AS SOON AS YOU CONFIRM IT IN YOUR
DESIGNATED BANK ACCOUNT.

2. THIS DEAL MUST BE KEPT SECRET FOREVER, AND ALL CORRESPONDENCE WILL BE
STRICTLY BY EMAIL / TELEPHONE THAT I WILL PROVIDE FOR YOU,AND THEY ARE PRIVATE
FOR SECURITY PURPOSES AS TO FORESTALL INFORMATION LEAKAGE.

3. YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE YOUR FULL NAME AND ADDRESS WITH YOUR BANK
ACCOUNT INFORMATION INCLUDING YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE/FAX NUMBERS.

I WILL ADVISE YOU ON WHAT TO DO IMMEDIATELY I HEAR FROM YOU AND THE TRANSFER
WILL COMMENCE WITHOUT DELAY, AS I WILL PROCEED TO FIX YOUR NAME ON THE PAYMENT
SCHEDULE INSTANTLY TO MEET THE SEVEN DAYS MANDATE.

WAITING FOR YOUR REPLY SOON AND I WOULD APPRECIATE A PHONE CALL FROM YOU FOR
MORE DISCUSSION REGARDING THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THIS SUCCESSFUL TRANSACTION.

MY DIRECT LINE TO CALL IS +234-806-027-2032

YOURS SINCERELY.

DR USMAN SHAMSUDEEN.
FINANCE MINISTER
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
EMAIL:fedfinanceministry30@live.com
CELL PHONE: +234-806-027-2032

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam