419 scam: "PAYMASTER GENERAL" <paymastergeneral@payunit.gov.org> ATTENTION

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i will like you to " (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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "fmf_protocol@click21.com.br" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "PAYMASTER GENERAL" <paymastergeneral@payunit.gov.org>
Reply-To: <fmf_protocol@click21.com.br>
Date: Sun, 28 Mar 2010 04:00:11 -0700
Subject: ATTENTION

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
Highly Confidential.
16 Walter Carrington Str. Ikoyi Lagos-Nigeria.
ASO ROCK VILLA, ABUJA ANNEX OFFICE.
From the Desk of Dr. Phillip Ramsey GCON.
Official Web Account:paymastergeneral@cenbank.com
Our Ref: FGN/OHG/OXD1/2010
TELEX: FEDGOVNIG..
ATTN:Dear Beneficiary,

PAYMENT NOTICE OF YOUR FUNDS

May you remain favoured.
This letter will definitely be amazing to you because of its realistic value.Sorry for the inconveniences that was rendered to you in your line of Inheritance Payment transaction with some Nigerian Officials some while ago.
Without taking much of your time, my name is Dr. Phillip Ramsey GCON, the Honourable Paymaster General of The Federal Republic of Nigeria.Presently, we are being paid by the American government in other to avert Scam and also to avert beneficiary funds delays here in Nigeria, So far, we have succeeded in Settling (Mrs. Ann Keyser,Mr. Edward Drake, Mr. Caleb Jones etc).
Your Funds were returned to the Federal Government Treasury some while ago because you did not finalize your claim for it. A week ago, the Presidency and The Federal Executive Council collectively agreed to release the sum of US$100,000,000 to you but to our surprise you sent down your representatives Mr. Robert Jason and Mr. Jim Harrison to collect this Funds on your behalf, this morning.
For the fact that this Committee is faithfully in my full governance as the Honourable Paymaster General of The Federal Republic of Nigeria, i will like you to give me the authority to transfer your Funds into their own Bank Account in Singapore (Asia).We await your immediate response via email and telephone.
Reply to: (fmf_protocol@click21.com.br)
Officially Sealed,Dr. Phillip Ramsey GCON.
The Honourable Paymaster General

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam