419 scam: Minister of Finance <williammullen5515@gmail.com> Your US$12,800,000.00 Inheritance Approved

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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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "cost of transfer" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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 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.
- usbank@accountant.com (Outblaze.com, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: Minister of Finance <williammullen5515@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2023 17:23:44 +0100
Subject: Your US$12,800,000.00 Inheritance Approved

Your Inheritance payment of US$12,800,000.00 has been approved and
deposited to U.S. Bank - San Angelo, Texas for immediate payment to you. Do
not hesitate to contact U.S. Bank - San Angelo,Texas where your
US$12,800,000.00 was deposited through the contact below and get your
payment released to you without any hitches as the cost of transfer was
waived out by the concerned Authority.

Contact Person: Mrs. Michele Hughes
U.S. Bank - San Angelo, Texas
3121 Sunset Drive, San Angelo, TX 76904
United States
1 800-872-2657
Opens at 9:00 AM
E-mail: usbank@accountant.com
Website: https://www.usbank.com

{1} Your Full Name:
{2} Your Home Address, City and Country:
{3} Your Private Cell:

Preferred choice of receiving payment

(A) Bank wire transfer:
(B) ATM Cash Card:
(C) Cashier Check:

Our mission with the instruction by the Presidency this year is to keep a
clean slate of all debts that have been owed to foreigners because of some
government officials and individuals who are not honest.

Yours faithfully.

Dr. Pascal Irenee Koupaki
Honorable Minister of Finance for
Foreign Affairs Benin Republic

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam