419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
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.
- mfec.planning.gh@minister.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Ministry Of Finance & Economic Planning
<ministry.of.finance.ghana@minister.com>
Date: Fri, 28 Jun 2013 06:37:09 +0000
Subject: GOOD NEWS FOR YOU CONCERNING YOUR FUND

Hello Sir/Ma,

Sequels to your inability to recover or claimed or get your

contract/inheritance fund into your care after many several

attempts and trying to claim it from several officials,

institutions, and ministry for a long time. And as a result you

have been defrauded by many fake officials, wrong individuals,

wrong ministries as well as wrong organization.

1. The government of Ghana through the initiative of Ministry

Of Finance & Economic Planning, has therefore decided and

resolved this and in getting this your contract/inheritance

fund to you via Telegraphic Transfer which will be transferred

to your account and reflected in your account over there within

three days by one of our paying bank.

2. Or you can choose via ATM prepaid Visa Card which will be

delivered to you at your destination within three days after

the fund has been loaded into ATM prepaid Visa Card, and after

the sending process has been concluded, within 3-working days

it will be send to you by express delivery courier company,

i.e. (DHL, UPS, FEDEX, etc.).

We advised you to reply back immediately to this email:

(mfec.planning.gh@minister.com ) with your name and your

contact telephone number and your address, also indicating your

choice of receiving this fund, (either choice 1 - Telegraphic

Bank Transfer, (or) choise 2 - ATM Card delivery).

Expecting your urgent reply.
Yours Faithfully

John S Edwards
>From Ministry Of Finance & Economic Planning -Ghana

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam