419 scam: "FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE"<fmf-ng@hotmail.com> Attn:Fund 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:
- "fund beneficiary" (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.
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.
- +2348034250715 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <fmf-al@info.al>
Date: Sat, 1 Jan 2000 16:53:38 -0800
Subject: Attn:Fund Beneficiary,

Attn:Fund Beneficiary,

In line with economic community of West African states (Ecowas), and the fresh instruction from the presidency this morning,I contact you officially this day 3Rd July. 2010.

However based on transparency, probity and accountability in the discharge of our duties thus, I am delighted to inform you that your payment will be release/routed to you by DIPLOMATIC CASH DELIVERY (DCD) mode of payment, of which your are to reconfirm once again the followings,

(1) Your direct receiving address,
(2)complete description of the nearest airport to you.
(3) your direct telephone/cell phone numbers.

Alternatively, if you prefer it to be delivered to your bank, then your bank information will have to be submitted in this regards. Presently, all necessary arrangement has been perfected hence the diplomat(s) is scheduled to depart today or tomorrow unfailingly pending on the arrival of your vital information.

Therefore, we are expecting your urgent response/call to enable us expedite action.
Do not forget to add up your phone and fax numbers for an easy communication.

Note that, $55,000 USD the charges of the shipment has been paid in Nigeria.
Yours sincerely,

I NEED YOUR RESPONCE TO THIS URGENTLY.

SINCERELY,

REV. WALTER BODE

Call me Immidiately on +234 80 34250715

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam