419 scam: "INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUNDS OFFICE"<www@xj121.com> ARE YOU DEAD OR ALIVE?GET BACK US,

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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:
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "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.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUNDS OFFICE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <imf.fundrelease1@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2011 18:54:52 +0100
Subject: ARE YOU DEAD OR ALIVE?GET BACK US,

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND
23 HERBERT MARCAULEY AVENUE
WUSE 2 GARKI ABUJA
FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY

Attention Beneficiary:

A power of attorney was forwarded to our office this morning by two gentle
men, one of them is an American national and he is MR DAVID DEANE by name
while the other person is MR... JACK MORGAN by name a CANADIAN national.

This gentlemen claimed to be your representative, and this power of
attorney stated that you are dead, they brought an account to replace your
information's in other to claim your fund of $6.5 Million Usd which it is
right now lying DORMANT and UNCLAIMED, below is the new account they have
submitted:

BANK.-HSBC CANADA
QUEZON AVE. DELTA BRANCH
QUEZON CITY, CANADA
ACCOUNT NO. 2984-0008-66
SWIFT CODE. BOPIPHMM

Be further informed that this power of attorney also stated that you
suffered and died of a throat cancer. You are therefore given 24hrs to
confirm the truth in this information, If you are still alive, You are to
contact us back immediately, Because we work 24 hrs just to ensure that we
monitor all the activities going on in regards to the transfer of beneficiaries
inheritance and contract payment.

You are to call this office immediately for clarifications on this matter
as we shall be available 24 hrs to speak with you and give you the
necessary guidelines on how to ensure that your payment is wired to you
immediately.

Just also be informed that any further delay from your side could be
dangerous, as we would not be held responsible of wrong payment.

Thank you.

Mr Mark Richards
International Monetary Funds Agents

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam