419 scam: "FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE"<federalministryoffinance@fmfgovt.org> THIS EMAIL IS VERY URGENT YOU ARE ADVICE TO RESPOND IMMEDIATELY.

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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:
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "dhldeliveringconpanyxx1@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
- +2348035400874 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dhldeliveringconpanyxx1@outlook.com>
Date: Thu, 20 Jun 2013 05:59:11 -0700
Subject: THIS EMAIL IS VERY URGENT YOU ARE ADVICE TO RESPOND IMMEDIATELY.

Federal Ministry of Finance Lagos Nigeria

Glass House, Former National Assembly Complex,

Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos State, Nigeria.

Tel: +234 803 540 0874

Fax: +234 803 555 0079

Hello dear,

We just received a call from the Director of United Parcel Service (UPS) Nigeria LTD Courier Delivering Company Lagos Nigeria that your (ATM MASTER CARD) which was sent to you, was returned due to wrong address; this (ATM MASTER CARD), contained your US$1.4Million (ONE MILLION FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED DOLLARS ONLY) As your foreign inheritance payment.

Therefore call the Director of United Parcel Service (UPS) Nigeria LTD Courier Delivering Company Lagos Nigeria (Mrs. Jennifer Obodo) on her cell phone: (+234 803 882 1000) Or email address: (dhldeliveringconpanyxx1@outlook.com) and give her your correct address and Phone number for the re-delivering of your (ATM MASTER CARD). Use this code (XA-8550) as the subject of your mail to her, for identification and also to avoid wrong sending of your (ATM MASTER CARD) again.

Regard,

Dr. Chuks Brown

Federal Ministry of Finance Lagos Nigeria.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam