419 scam: IMF AFRICA REGIONS. <test@shyouth.net> IMF RELEASE ORDER.

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "my direct line" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2348058875754 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- heinzeandrew.unnigpayment@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: IMF AFRICA REGIONS. <test@shyouth.net>
Reply-To: <heinzeandrew.unnigpayment@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2011 06:13:08 -0800
Subject: IMF RELEASE ORDER.

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)
HEAD OFFICE NO: 23 AVELELON RAOD,
Abuja Nigeria.
Email:heinzeandrew.unnigpayment@gmail.com
TELE+234-8058875754.

INSTRUCTION TO RELEASE YOUR INHERITANCE FUND

Attn:Beneficiary.

Dear Sir/Madam.

This is to intimate you of a very important information which will be of a great help to redeem you from all the difficulties you have been experiencing in Nigeria from getting your long over due payment due to excessive demand for money from you by both corrupt Bank officials and Courier Companies after which your fund remain unpaid to you.

I am Mr Andrew Heinze Director Funds Disbursement Unit of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for Africa. It may interest you to know that reports have reached our office by so many correspondences on the uneasy way which people like you are treated by Various Banks and Courier Companies/ Diplomat across Europe to Africa and Asia /London Uk and we have decided to put a stop to that and that is why I was appointed to handle your transaction here in Nigeria.

All Governmental and Non-Governmental prostates, NGOs, Finance Companies, Banks, Security Companies and Courier companies which have been in contact with you of late have been instructed to back up from your transaction and you have been advised NOT to respond to them anymore since the IMF is now directly in charge of your payment.

The most annoying thing is that the bad officials won't tell you the truth that on no account will they ever release the fund to you, instead they allow you spend money unnecessarily, I do not intend to work here all the days of my life, I can release this fund to you if you can certify me of my security.

I needed to help you release the fund because you need to know the statues of your funds and cause for the delay, Please this is like a Mafia setting in Nigeria, you may not understand it because you are not a Nigerian.

You are hereby advised NOT to remit further payment to any institutions with respect to your transaction as your fund will be transferred to you directly from our source through either Bank To Bank Wire Transfer or via ATM Debit Master Card hence your prefared choice.please not for clarity sake and to avoid scam all you need to do before the IMF will release your funds is just simply obtain a copy of your IMF International Funds Bond Clearance Certificate(IFBCC)from my office which i will use to backup your payment as legal funds prior to the release in your favour and this Document will cost you only the sum of US$285(Two Hundred And Eighty Five Dollars),that is the only monye you will send to my office and i will procure the IFBCC document in you favour and then your funds released with immediate effect and at no EXTRA cost.

I hope this is clear. Any action contrary to this instruction is at your own risk. Respond to this e-mail on (heinzeandrew.unnigpayment@gmail.com) with immediate effect and we shall give you further details on how your fund will be released which of course you will tell us how best you want to be paid your funds.

Reconfirm the information below for final verifications and endorsement of your payment file prior to release.

1. Full Name:
2. Address:
3Nationality:
4. Age: Date of Birth:
5. Occupation:
6. Phone: Mobile/Cellular.

Please is very important you give me a call on my direct line as soon as you receive this letter so that you will be given an immediate response and you payment released within 72hours directly from the IMF Floating account.

Yours Sincerely.
Mr.Andrew Heinze.
IMF Regional Director,Africa.
+234-805-8875754.

Anti-fraud resources:

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