419 scam: "FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE"<michaelpeterson00002009@gmail.com> MR. MICHAEL PETERSON: PAYMENT SUPERVISORY OFFICER.

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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:
- "million 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)
- ",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.
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.
- +447005961256 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- +447700036898

Fraud email example:

From: "FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <michaelpeterson00008@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2011 22:46:30 +0100
Subject: MR. MICHAEL PETERSON: PAYMENT SUPERVISORY OFFICER.

MR. MICHAEL PETERSON.
PAYMENT SUPERVISORY OFFICER.
INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPT
HSBC BANK, LONDON.
Tel: + 44-77000-36898.
Fax: +44-70059-61256.

Good day.

Ref.: Verify To Know The Capacity Of Your Bank Account

This is to let you know that I have been trying to get this fund into your bank account and to prove to you that not everybody that comes your way in this world is Fake. Now I have tried my possible best to see that the bank transfer your money to you. And also has submitted all the necessary documents needed by the bank on your behalf and attach is an international bank draft issued in your name through the HONG KONG & SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION PLC (HSBC) LONDON.

Go to your bank office and confirm if this attach bank draft is real so that the bank will send the original copy of the international bank draft to you, also note that the Director of the bank told me that they just issued you this US$850,000.00. To verify the capacity of your bank account if your bank account can accommodate the US$15,000,000.00 (Fifteen Million United States Dollars Only) approve to you, before they will transfer the whole amount of your money to you, please confirm this with your bank management immediately and get back to us so that the bank will know very well that your bank account is capable of receiving the whole amount of your money, therefore re-send your current receiving address where the original copy of your bank draft will be delivered to you, with the above Fax number immediately you received this message, and your telephone and fax number for easy communication and also confirm if you received the attachment of your international bank draft!
. Do that immediately.

God bless us all.

Yours in service,

MR. MICHAEL PETERSON
PAYMENT SUPERVISORY OFFICER.
HSBC BANK, LONDON.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam