419 scam: "Foreign Operations Unit" <markbraxon@imf.org> Your Payment

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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:
- "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: "Foreign Operations Unit" <markbraxon@imf.org>
Reply-To: markbraxon@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2011 03:55:15 -0000
Subject: Your Payment

Foreign Operations Unit
Processing & Payment Department

File Ref No: ADB/97531/SCB-OX1/09
AMOUNT: US$7,400,000.00 DOLLARS ONLY.

Attn,

We hereby confirmed receipt of part payment of US$7,400,000.00 dollars
only, into our official ESCROW account with the Standard Chartered Bank in
London by order of the African Development Bank (ADB) in charge of Foreign
Debt Recovery Committee on Overdue Contract/ Inheritance payments in
Africa, as indicated in our database.

Kindly provide us with the below information by E-mail: re-confirm your
details in our database for immediate remittance into your designated
account.

Personal Details:
Beneficiary name:
Address:
Tel:
Occupation:
Date of Birth:
Marital Status:
Country:

We sincerely apologize for the delays and advice you to STOP any further
communication with your associate in any of the African countries for they
contributed 100% hindrances to the release of your funds. Our final fund
release order will be forwarded to our operational paying bank, the
Standard Chartered Bank in London-UK for immediate transfer of your
allocation into your designated account upon receipt and official
re-confirmation of your information in our
database.

Fund will be retrieved to treasury after ten (10) business days of this
notice.

Yours in service,
Mark Braxon

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam