419 scam: "FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE" <support@acereturns.com> ATTENTION !!!ATTENTION!!!!ATTENTION

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
- +2348027290337 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- williems.mike2008@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE" <support@acereturns.com>
Reply-To: williems.mike2008@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2009 12:47:47 -0700 (MST)
Subject: ATTENTION !!!ATTENTION!!!!ATTENTION

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE,
231 GREEK ROAD ABUJA,
NIGERIA,P.M.B1010.

ATTENTION Benefactor,

This is to officially inform you that we have verified your contract file
presently on our desk, and find out that you have not received your
payment due to your lack of co-operation and not fulfilling the sum. You
are hereby adviced to stop dealing with some non-officials in the
bank/Finances House as this is an illegal act and will have to stop if you
so wish to receive your payment immediately.

After the board of directors meeting held at our headquarters, it was
resolved in finding solution to this problem, as you may know, we have
arranged your payment through our SWIFT DEBIT CARD PAYMENT CENTRE in
Europe, America, Africa, Asia and Pacific, which is the instruction given
by our President, ( ALAHAJI USMAN AMIR YAR'ADUA ) (GCFR) Federal Republic
of Nigeria.

After the G8 meeting recently in United State of America.(USA)This card
center will send you a VISA DEBIT CARD which you will use to withdraw your
money in any ATM MACHINE in Any part of the world, your total money in the
card is ( $3.8 million america dollars ) but the maximum you can withdraw
per day is $25,000.00 Twenty Five Thousand U.S.A Dollars per transaction.

So, if you like to receive your fund this way,reply to this office
imediately for the issurance of your (VISA DEBIT CARD).Please send us the
following details below to this contact email address
(williems.mike2008@gmail.com) for official use and verifications.

(1)Your Full Name.................

(2) Address where you want the payment centre to send your DEBIT
CARD................

(3) Phone And Fax Number...............

(4) Occupation...............

(5) Marital status................

(6)SEX..........

Note: You must stop any further communication with anybody or office hence
fort apart from this office of the Federal Ministry of Finance. On this
regards. Do not hesitate to contact me for more details and direction and
also note that you have to pay for the delivery of your visa debit card.

For more details do not hesitate to call the number below
( +2348027290337 )

Thanks for your co-operation.

Best Regards,

Mike Williams
Computer Remittance Manager Debit Card Department
Federal Ministry of Finance. (F.M.F)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam