419 scam: "MINISTRY OF FINANCE" <ministryoffinance@fmf.org.ng> CONFIRMATION!!

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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "outstanding contractors" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "MINISTRY OF FINANCE" <ministryoffinance@fmf.org.ng>
Reply-To: "MINISTRY OF FINANCE" <sarahmbiamrs@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2019 15:18:21 -0700
Subject: CONFIRMATION!!

Dear Sir/Madam,

From the records of outstanding contractors over due for payment with the Federal Government of Nigeria, your Name / Company was discovered as next on the list of Contractors who have not received their payments.

Also discovered in your file is a Letter of Authority from one Mr. Garry Faulkner indicating the funds destination to the following Bank details:

Account name: Mr. Garry Faulkner,
Account No: 202-0000-60233
Bank name: ANZ BANK,
3200 Basel , Switzerland ,
Swift Code: ANZPUS3XXS.

Did you Authorize the payment of your Contract sum of US$23.7M (Twenty - Three Million Seven Hundred Thousand United States Dollars only) to the aforementioned Person?

I am directed to notify you of this development and also confirm the legitimacy of the above claim and the reason for such change. In the event that you are not aware of such claim, Please, quickly confirm immediately by Re-Confirming the following information:

1) Your full name.
2) Phone, fax and mobile #.
3) Company name, position and address.
4) Profession, age and marital status.
5) Scanned copy of int'l passport.

I await your urgent response.

Yours sincerely,

Sarah Mbiam (Mrs).
For : Accountant General of The Federation, Federal Ministry of Finance, Abuja, Nigeria.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam