419 scam: "Mr. Malusi Gigaba"<mrgigabam@treasury.gov.za> :SPAM: FROM THE MINISTER OF FINANCE, MALUSI GIGABA.

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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:
- ",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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Malusi Gigaba" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrgigabam@minister.com>
Date: Wed, 20 Sep 2017 12:14:19 +0200
Subject: :SPAM: FROM THE MINISTER OF FINANCE, MALUSI GIGABA.

Attention:

This is to bring to your attention that as I was going through some files parked for so long in my office, I came across a payment file containing information about a fund in your favor which the former minister, Pravin Gordhan was supposed to release to you, but did not for some reasons not clear to me.

The information in the payment file indicates that the fund was sent from Reserve bank after a prolonged attempt by the bank to effect payment to you without success.

The total amount of the fund is R126,000,000.00. Do you know about the fund?

You are therefore, required to confirm the following information for immediate processing and release of your fund to you:

1, NAME AND CURRENT ADDRESS.

2, AGE AND CURRENT JOB.

3, MOBILE TELEPHONE NUMBER.

4, PRIVATE EMAIL ADDRESS IF ANY.

Anticipating your urgent response.

Yours Faithfully.

Malusi Gigaba

Minister of Finance,

Republic of South Africa.

Fax: 086 265 0311.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam