419 scam: "Federal Ministry of Finance"<webmaster@dha.ac.cn> Transfer of US$2,500,000.00 to your bank account

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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:
- ",500,000" (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 fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
1. They don't notify winners by email.
2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
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.
- ngozweala57@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Federal Ministry of Finance" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <okonjoiwee@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2012 10:47:54 -0800
Subject: Transfer of US$2,500,000.00 to your bank account

Dear Sir,

We wish to congratulate and inform you that after thorough review of all unclaimed Contract, Inheritance and Lottery funds in conjunction with the World Bank and United Nations report, your payment file has finally been forwarded to us for review and immediate payment of your long delayed funds starting with a first instalment transfer of US$2,500,000.00 to your designated bank account.

The audit reports given to us, shows that you have been going through hard times by paying a lot of money to see to the release of your funds, which has been delayed by some dubious officials.

We therefore advice that you stop further communication with any correspondence outside this office since you do not have to pay any money or fee to receive your funds as you have met up with the whole funds transfer requirements.

This first installment of US$2,500,000.00 is scheduled to be released to you within the next few days from our paying bank as a part-payment of your total entitlements will assist you greatly in meeting up with your financial obligations.

Should you follow our directives, your funds US$2,500,000.00 will be credited in your bank account by telegraphic transfer within three (3) working days and copies of the funds transfer release documents will be sent to you and your bankers for confirmation.

For the immediate payment of your US$2,500,000.00, kindly forward your
FULL NAME:
FULL CONTACT ADDRESS:
TELEPHONE and FAX NUMBERS:
OCCUPATION and AGE:
Reply Directly to my private E-mail: ngozweala57@yahoo.co.jp

Note all correspondences regards your fund transfer of US$2,500,000.00 should have this Reference Number: (FMF/PED-NG/WAR-200) and reply me through my private E-mail: ngozweala57@yahoo.co.jp

Yours faithfully,

Mrs.Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Minister of Finance
Federal Ministry of Finance

Anti-fraud resources:

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