419 scam: "IMF"<infor@imf.org> INTERNATIONAL DEBT SETTLEMENT UNIT

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- "into your nominated bank account" (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)
- "to your nominated bank account" (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: "IMF" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <imf1900@ciudad.com.ar>
Date: Sun, 21 Apr 2013 10:03:05 -0500
Subject: INTERNATIONAL DEBT SETTLEMENT UNIT

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND
INTERNATIONAL DEBT SETTLEMENT UNIT
RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE

RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE
700 19TH STREET, N.W.,
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20431

This is to bring to your notice about the due process of your payment and outstanding Contractual/Inheritance payment presently under delay which is now suspended by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for proper investigation and transfer there by stopping the telex unit to pause the transfer of your fund to your nominated bank account from any other institution which has delayed your funds payment for some time now.

During the auditing and closing of all financial records of the Central Bank/Federal Reserve, it was discovered from the records that you have a outstanding contract or inheritance payments due for payment by the Central Bank/ Federal Reserve and your Name/Company Name is next on the list to received your fund.

As a result of this development, verification conducted by the International Monetary Fund in conjunction with the Debt Verification Panel on your delayed fund and all payment from any origin from Africa now your file has been endorsed for payment and now awaiting your confirmations.

Meanwhile, a man came to my office few days ago with a letter named (Mr.Johnson White) claiming to be your true representative. We want you confirm the claims to this office if this man is truly from you. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will not be held responsible for paying into the wrong account.

Please, do reconfirm to this office, as a matter of urgency if this man is from you. If not you are requested to reconfirm the follow information below for verifications purposes so that a update can be made for your fund to be remitted into your nominated bank account.

Information needed from you for verification is as follow:

(1) Your Full name:.....................
(2) Your Full address:..................
(3) Your Age:...........................
(4) Your Occupation:....................
(5) Your Telephone/Mobil number:....................
(6) Your Nationality:...................
(7) A scanned copy of your international Passport of Drivers card:....................

As soon as we receive this information, we will commence with all necessary procedures in other to remit your funds into your account. The International Monetary Fund, Executive Board of Directors and the Senate committee for foreign over due contract/inheritance fund have approved and accredited this reputable Institution copy to the office of the minister of finance on international remittance/foreign operations for all payments from africa to handle and supervise the release/transfer of all payment for this quarter payment of the year 2013.

However we shall proceed to issue all payments details to the said Mr.Johnson White, if we do not hear from you within the next seven working days from today. We are sorry for any inconvenience the delay in transferring of this fund must have caused you.

Best Regards,

Mr David Corner.
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam