joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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:

Fraud email example:

From: "Minister of Finance" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ministeroffinance@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2017 11:25:38 -0700
Subject: I have informed you in my previous email that you will receive your funds.

Ministry of Finance
Federal Government of Nigeria
Address:  Plots 745 & 746,
Ahmadu Bello Way, Central Area,
P.M.B 14 Garki, Abuja.
Nigeria
Website: http://www.fmf.gov.ng
 
 
 
Dear Sir,
 
 
 
How are you doing?
 
 
 
I have informed you in my previous email that you will receive your funds ONLY through us here in the Federal Ministry of Finance.
 
 
 
You can never receive your funds without through the Ministry of Finance so do not be deceived by those crooks and impostors you are dealing with that tell you a lot of lie and trying to  extort money from you or have been extorting money from you.
 
 
 
The Federal Ministry of Finance remains the only authority in charge of your payment so  get this information. This is to let you know that all beneficiaries have received their payment remaining you. I promised you in my first emails that I will make a difference by making sure that you receive your funds and be happy with your family.
 
 
 
I understood that it is very difficult for you to raise the US$750 required for the International Funds Transfer Clearance Certificate which is needed before your funds will be transferred into your account.
 
 
 
I have used my official capacity as the  Minister of Finance, Federal Republic of Nigeria and reduce the fee for the International Funds Transfer Clearance  Certificate from US$750 to  $100. so that everything will be finalize without further  delay and your funds will be US5M transferred into your account. This is to make it possible for you and to enable your payment be effected without further delay and your funds credited into your account.
 
 
 
You are advised to send the US$100 immediately for the International Funds Transfer Clearance Certificate so that this clearance document will be issued on your behalf your  funds valued US $5 Million will immediately be transferred into your account. Once you send the US$100, the International Funds Transfer Clearance Certificate will  be paid and issued on your behalf and your funds will be transferred into your account Immediately.
 
 
 
You should send the US$100 through Money Gram or Western Union in the name of  our Cashier:
 
 
STEVEN OGUH,
Address: Abuja Nigeria.
You should send this US$100 immediately and get back to me
 
 
 
             MY GUARANTEE
 
You have my assurance and guarantee that, once you send the US$100, I will  obtain the Funds  Transfer document on your behalf and transfer your funds into your bank account within two  hours.
 
 
 
FURTHER INSTRUCTION
 
Do send the Western Union or Money Gram pick up information of the US$100 to me as soon as you  send it today so that I will instruct our Cashier, STEVEN OGUH to pick up the money and bring it to me and the International Funds Transfer  Clearance  Certificate will be issued on your behalf and your funds will be transferred into  your account.
 
 
 
I await your prompt compliance.
 
 
 
Sincerely,
 
 
Mrs. Kemi Adeosun
Minister of Finance,
Federal Republic of Nigeria
Email: ministeroffinance@yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources: