419 scam: "Paul Anthony"<info@fmf.gov.ng> OUR REF: CBN/FMF/CBX/021/07/009

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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "into your nominated bank account" (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)
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "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.
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.
- +2347094291798 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Paul Anthony" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <fmfgov198@ciudad.com.ar>
Date: Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:02:23 +0100
Subject: OUR REF: CBN/FMF/CBX/021/07/009

OFFICE OF THE HONORABLE MINISTER OF FINANCE
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE (F.M.F)
FMF ANNEX COMPLEX BUILDING
GARKI, ABUJA, NIGERIA.

OUR REF: CBN/FMF/CBX/021/07/009.

CONTRACT NO: MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN.

Compliments of the day to you,

This is to bring to your notice about the due process of your outstanding Contractual/Inheritance payment which was suspended by the Central Bank of Nigeria there by stopping the telex unit to pause the transfer of your contract/inheritance fund to your nominated bank account.

As a result of this development, verification conducted by the Finance Ministry in conjunction with the Debt Verification Panel on your contract/inheritance case, your file has been endorsed for payment awaiting your confirmations.

During the auditing and closing of all financial records ofthe Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN),it was discovered from the records of outstanding foreign contractors due for payment with the Federal Government of Nigeria that your name and company is next on the list of those who will recieved their fund.

Meanwhile, a man came to my office few days ago with a letter, claiming to be your true representative. Here are his information for you to confirm to this office if this man is truly from you or not, so that the federal government will not be held responsible for paying into the wrong account.

NAME: MR. JOHNSON WHITE
BANK NAME: BANK OF AMERICA
BANK ADDRESS: ARIZONA.
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 6503809428.

Please, do reconfirm to this office, as a matter of urgency if this man is from you. You are requested to fill and send this information for verifications purposes so that your fund will be remitted into your nominated bank account via your agent.

Information needed from you for verification is as follow:

(1) Your Full Name and Address:
(2) Your Age and Marital status:
(3) Your Occupation:
(4) Your Telephone/ Fax number:
(5) Your Nationality:
(6) A scanned copy of your Identification:

As soon as we receive this, we will commence with all necessary procedures in other to remit this money into your account.

The Central Bank Governor, Executive Board of Directors and the Senate committee for foreign over due inheritance fund have approved and accredited our ministry,with the office of the minister of finance on international remittance/foreign operations, to handle and supervise the transfer of all foreign inheritance funds for this second quarter payment of the year 2010.

However, we shall proceed to issue all payments details to the said Mr.Johnson White, if we do not hear from you within the next seven working days from today.

We are sorry for any inconvenience the delay in transferring of this fund must have caused you.

Best Regards,

Mr Paul Smith Anthony.
Direct Line: +234-70-94291798

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam