419 scam: "OFFICE OF THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE"<john@yahoo.com> Immediate Release of Your FUND

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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:
- "atm card department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- info.oceanic.bank.atm.centre@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "OFFICE OF THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info.atmoceanicbank@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 14 Jan 2010 06:29:58 -0800
Subject: Immediate Release of Your FUND

HELLO Beneficiary:

We wish to inform you that your Payment of USD8.5m (eight Million five hundred thousand Dollars) have been RELEASED and APPROVED for onward payment to you.

You are therefore advice you to contact the Head of ATM CARD Department of Oceanic Bank Plc

Contact Person: Rev MEKWUNYE CHARLES

Office email address: info.oceanic.bank.atm.centre@gmail.com

Tell Rev MEKWUNYE CHARLES that you received a message from the office of the Finance Minister,Telling him to send you the ATM CARD and PIN NUMBER, also send him your direct phone number and contact address where you want him to send the ATM CARD and PIN NUMBER to you.

We are very sorry for the plight you have gone through in the past years. Thanks for adhering to this instruction and once again accept our congratulations.

Best Regards.

DR.John .A

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam