419 scam: "Dr. Frank Michael"<info@fmf.ng.org> Federal Ministry Of Finance

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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:
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. Frank Michael" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <frankmichael00@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2016 13:48:14 -0700
Subject: Federal Ministry Of Finance

Federal Ministry Of Finance
Plots 745 & 746, Ahmadu Bello Way, Central Area,
P.M.B 14
Garki, Abuja.

Attn: Sir/Madam

We receive the shock news of a near fatal accident that left you with a broken spinal cord which impaired your ability to hear and speak. In other
words, we have been officially informed that you are now invalid, deaf and dumb arising from a motor accident which damaged your spinal cord. This
information is provided to us by your partner/ Lawyer appointed to oversee your transaction.

Furthermore, your partner presents us a set of documents to portray that you have willed your funds to him and has given him a Power of Attorney to
take over your transaction and claim your outstanding funds accordingly.

In view of the sympathetic and sensible nature of this report, we are obliged to confirm this from you before taking action in favour of
your partner by wiring the funds to his chosen bank account as well as sympathize with you. Please confirm the validity of this report and
state clearly whether you are invalid, deaf and dumb arising from your auto accident.

To further convince us that you are the very person, I would prefer you email me immediately you receive this message otherwise, we would
have no choice but to act according to your Will.

Expecting to receive your email as soon as possible.

Yours faithfully,
Sir, Dr. Frank Michael
Chairman Payment Transfer Dept
Federal Ministry of Finance.(FMF)
This email has been protected by YAC (Yet Another Cleaner) http://www.yac.mx

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam