419 scam: "Federal Ministry of Finance"<info@finance.gov> YOUR ATM CARD IS READY

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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:
- "million united states dollars" (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)
- "million dollars" (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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "atm_remmitantoffice2012@yahoo.com" (this email address looks like addresses used in "ATM SWIFT card" 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.
- +2347033438932 (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.
- atm_remmitantoffice2012@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Federal Ministry of Finance" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <atm_remmitantoffice2012@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 29 Feb 2012 22:22:59 +0200
Subject: YOUR ATM CARD IS READY - RESPOND ASAP.

Attention,

LONG OVER DUE PAYMENT ON YOUR NAME AND FAVOR.

I am Mr. Michael Lucas.A director with the Federal Ministry of Finance and was
instructed by the Hon. Minister of finance, to find out before the end of this
month, why your contract payment fund valued $5Million United states dollars
contract part payment still unclaimed. However, their are two gentlemen here
who came from your country to claim this inheritance fund on your behalf and
the reason giving to us is that you are the one who sent them that you are
terminal sick is that true?.

In this regard, kindly reconfirm your personal information to us for proper
identification, and to know if you are the one that sent them for the claim.

Bellow are the information's that you are to reconfirm to my office immediately.

1) Your full name.......................
2) Your phone number, cell phone mobile#.......................
3) Your address..............................
4) Your occupation/position........................

Upon the proper identification, the Hon. Minister of finance will immediately
sign the approval letter and refer you to our diplomatic agent who will be
delivering to you your total amount of $5million dollars by ATM MASTER CARD so
that you can be able to cash it over there, also a pin code will be emailed to
you once you have received the ATM CARD for security reasons, just get back to
us ASAP to let us know if you sent any one here to claim your ATM CARD or not.

NOTE: You are to pay the sum of ($125.00) for the delivery of your ATM CARD
and as soon as you send the fees to Mr. Michael Lucas he will instruct the
courier agent to send out your ATM CARD to your destination home address you
will provide to him and also send you the delivery tracking number to know
when the ATM CARD will be deliver to you.

Please make sure you get back to us with the requested details above so that
we can start processing your ATM CARD for immediate delivery to your
residential home address.

Our desire is to serving you better. Waiting your urgent reply via my official
email.

Name: Mr. Michael Lucas.

Contact Email:atm_remmitantoffice2012@yahoo.com

Or call him on +234-703-343-8932.

Yours faithfully,

Mr. Michael Lucas.
External Debt management official desk 2011/2012

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam