419 scam: "Gordon Brown"<info@financedept.co.uk> YOUR PAYMENT VERIFICATION HAS BEEN COMPLETED

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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:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "mtcn" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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.
- +447035954193 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Gordon Brown" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <financedepart.brown@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 14:58:49 +0100
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT VERIFICATION HAS BEEN COMPLETED

>From The Department of Finance and Personnel
WESTERN UNION MONEY GROUP.
35 CROSS STREET Sale,
CHESHIRE M33 7FT UNITED KINGDOM
TEL: +447035954193
Ref: NCB/CMB/324/09

Attention: Dear Beneficiary (Your Payment Notification),

This is to officially inform you that we have verified your Claim file presently in my office and we found out that you Have not received your payment due to lack of co-operation and not fulfilling the obligations given to you in respect to Your payment through your payment bank.

I wish to notify you that your name appeared in the Central Computing system in our ministry as the rightful owner for the Unpaid beneficiary as the statement of the Funds and you
Entitled part payment of your total inheritance funds of £10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Uk Pounds sterling) through Western Union Money Transfer as authorized by Ministry of Finance and other related agencies.

SECTION A

You are advised to re-confirm to me your details as required Below to enable the release of your payment worth £10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Uk Pounds sterling) To you as a matter of urgency with the required Detail below.

(1). Re-confirm your full names:
(2). Re-confirm Contact address:
(3). Re-confirm valid Phone #:
(4). Fax:
(5). Age:
(6). Occupation:
(7)Ref No:

SECTION B

We wish to inform you based on a lot of junks mail flying over The internet and some people are using that advantage to collect Account information from people on internet for fraudulent Purpose that is while it was assigned and approved by Uk goverment that your payment will come Through Western Union Money Transfer system and also your Funds as been programmed to be release to you through western Union money transfer twice daily.

As soon as the above are provided, Western Union department in Conjunction with Ministry of Finance will contact you With the Western Union Payment information to enable you cash Your money daily. You will be receiving £10000.00 twice per Day and the MTCN number will be sent along with the Text Questions & Answers for you to receive your fund through any Western Union Location in your Country.

We look forward to serving you better.

Best regards,

Mr. Gordon Brown
Secretary to Finance Minister
Alistair Darling

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam