Watch Out for this Email Scam
I recently received the following email from a government address. At first it seemed legitimate simply by virtue that it came from a .gov address. When I opened it and read its contents, I then realized that it was another scam. To me it was obvious, but when I thought about it further, I realized that the average person with no training may think it was authentic. This is why I decided to offer the public some advice. Let’s pick the following email apart and go over some red flags. The email read as follows:
From the FMF, Federal Ministry of Finance
No 12 edid lane Idumota Lagos
Honorable Minister of Finance, DR USMAN SHAMSUDEEN
Approved by the Nigerian Government
http://www.fmf.gov.ng/portal/detail.php?link=hmf
Email: internationalremmitance77@yahoo.fr
Dear Sir/Madam,
NOTIFICATION OF PAYMENT VIA ATM CARD
This is to officially inform you that we have verified your contract/inheritance payment file and discovered that the reason why you have not been able to receive your contract/inheritance payment after fulfilling all stipulated obligations and documentations is because you have been dealing with impostors and none staff of the CBN. To this end, all your efforts to secure the release
of your fund failed. We therefore wish to advise that continuing with such illegal acts to claim your Contract/inheritance funds will further frustrate and
stop your payment claim.
After the Board of director's meeting that was held in Abuja, We have received the express mandate and instructions of the President, Federal Republic of
Nigeria: President Musa Omar Yaradua GCFR together with the EFCC Nigeria to commence the immediate release of your funds through our swift card payment center. Based on the President�s directive, we have concluded
arrangements for the release of your payment. The payment will be concluded through our card center which will send to you an ATM CARD that you will use to withdraw your contract/inheritance funds in any ATM MACHINE CENTRE in the world with a maximum of $5,000 United States Dollars daily.
And also the Nigerian Government is using this mean to rewards all the citizens of the United states and all part of Europe including Asia, Australia, south America, Antarctica e.t.c in all those who have lost their funds in either scam, or an Uncompleted business, or otherwise, you should know that if you are interested to receive your ATM card which will be credited with $5.000.000.00 United States dollars before it is been sent to you direct to your doorstep through the Fedex courier service.
However, Note that this method of payment will be granted if it is acceptable to you for the release of your contract/inheritance entitlement. In View of this,
you are advised to contact me Honorable Minister of Finance, DR USMAN SHAMSUDEEN for further information with the following contact details
If you like to receive your fund this way, Kindly get back to me with the following information�s below so I can start Arrangement on how to get your ATM Card shipped to you
(1) Your Full Name.
(2) Full residential address.
(3) Phone and Fax Number.
(4) Occupation.
(5) Scan copy of personal identification.
(6) Age.
This message is supported by the Nigerian Government, after you might have started making use of your ATM card, you can reward my firm one way or the other you knows best.
Congratulations
From the FMF, Federal Ministry of Finance
DR USMAN SHAMSUDEEN
Cc: Senate: David Mark
Bcc: House of Assembly
First of all, the address alone sends out alarms. Why would the Nigerian Government send me a notification of payment, and why is the Nigerian president even involved? Isn’t the Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua? Am I that important that the President held a Board of Directors meeting to decide whether to release my funds? Isn’t that nice that they decided to do a direct deposit as opposed to sending me a check? Can I request it be in Euros instead of US dollars?
Why is the Nigerian government rewarding the citizens of the United States for those who have lost their funds in scams? If everyone who was involved in a scam in the US was awarded 5 million dollars, there would be no poverty whatsoever, our children would have the best educations, there would be no housing slump, everyone could afford superior healthcare, and ladies wouldn’t buy designer knock-offs!
Seriously, never respond to these types of emails with any personal information. These crooks send out thousands of these official sounding emails in the hopes of getting a dozen people to respond with personal information.
Sergeant John Castiglia leads the Financial Crimes Unit with the Sacramento Police Department. He receives these types of emails personally and from fellow officers who bring these to him in hopes of catching them in the act. Castiglia says, “Any time you receive something from another country telling you that you’ve won something, its a scam. There is the Canadian Lotto scam, the distant relative that was killed with no other family to claim the inheritance, and the tax rebate scams. You are going to see a lot of tax rebate scams until the end of tax time. No bank, government, or other financial institution will contact you unless you initiate a transaction. Never give your personal information to anyone over the phone. Our unit has compiled an Identity Theft prevention and resolution pamphlet that you can download by going to www.sacpd.org. Once there, click on the “information” column and then go to “crime prevention.”
Warn your older family members about scams like this. The older generation tends to be more trusting. Don’t let your grandparents fall prey to these swindlers.
If you receive an email like this or any other you suspect is a scam, forward it to the Federal Trade Commission by going to www.ftc.gov. They track these types of things.
Lastly, if it seems to be too good to be true, it usually is.
