419 scam: OFFICE OF THE FINANCE MINISTER <foreigndebtscommissiongh@live.com> OFFICIAL PAYMENT MEMO.

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "transferred into your 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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- icbankghana@accountant.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: OFFICE OF THE FINANCE MINISTER <foreigndebtscommissiongh@live.com>
Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:58:51 -0800 (PST)
Subject: OFFICIAL PAYMENT MEMO.

OFFICIAL PAYMENT MEMO.

Sir,

This is to inform you that your
payment has been approved by my office and is now ready to be transferred into
your bank account via International Commercial Bank Limited, Ghana. This is inline with the
payment agreement reached between Federal Government of Nigeria and International
Commercial Bank Limited, Ghana
after incessant complaints by our foreign contractors/claimants on the delay of
their payments by our own indigenous banks here in Nigeria.

Therefore, for avoidance of
transferring your fund into a wrong bank account, we advise you to re-confirm
your current bank details to the Remittance Director of International
Commercial Bank Limited, Ghana, Mr. Solomon Amankwah on his official fax
number: +233-272-260559 or Email: icbankghana@accountant.com for immediate release of your fund.

Congratulations.

Yours Faithfully,
Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo Iweala
Finance Minister, Federal Republic
of Nigeria.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam