419 scam: "INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND(IMF)"<info@admin.org> INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND(IMF)

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "western union" (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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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. )
- "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.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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.
- +2348137378411

Fraud email example:

From: "INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND(IMF)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <imf.dept@al-3na.net>
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 12:19:44 +0100
Subject: INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND(IMF)

IMF WORLD REGULATORY OFFICE
INTERNATIONAL FUNDS REGULATORY AUTHORITY
INTER-CONTINENTAL DEBT RECONCILIATION DEPT.
FROM THE DESK OF: HONORABLE MR. JONES ROBINSON
DIRECTOR; IMF World Regulatory Office.

Attn:

I am in receipt of your mail, thank you for contacting the IMF Refunding Unit. This is to intimate you in respect of the latest development for the arrangement we have just concluded to finalize the processing of your outstanding long over due payment.
The total sum of 2.5million dollar has been programmed in an Inter-Switch ATM master card from Russia specific bearing HSBC global Bank in United Kingdom.

Here is our Headquarters address:

International Monetary Fund
700 19th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20431 USA.

You will have to activate your card first before we register it for delivery through to your house address and the activation of your card is going to cost you $400 Dollars only. The reason you must activate the card is to ensure that it has the regular inter-switch functions so that you do not have to return it to the company complaining of malfunctioning.

If you are pleased with this service get back to me and I shall provide you with more information to contact the HSBC global Bank for the activation of your card aftermath delivery will take effect to your address.

Your Information's will be require below for delivery registration after you have sort the fee for activation of your card:

Recipient Name:
Recipient Address:
Reachable Tel No.:
Occupation:
And Age:

This is the only information you will need to forward along after you have sent the activation fee of your card as instructed. So I hereby advise you to immediately visit the western union and pay to my secretary through the instruction given below:

Send payment from a Western Union Agent through Wal-Mart Stores [WMT], Super Stores or Gas Station.
Firstly you need to find your local Western Union Agent, and then enter our receiver information: On the Western Union send money form, your receiver details are as follows:

Receiver's First Name: Richard
Receiver's Last Name: Ramond.
Amount: $400 dollar

Text Question: In God

Text Answer: We Trust
City/Town: Mary Island
Province/Territory/State: Abuja
Country: Nigeria....

Email Us Your Payment Details

Upon approval of your payment, the transaction will be sent. You will be given a receipt containing your Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN). Finally, please email your Sender's Full Name, Address and MTCN to:

Once we have confirmed your payment, every necessary procedure on processing the release of your fund will be done instantly without further delays.

Please Call After You Have Sent Your Activation Fee, The Number To Call: +2348-137-378-411

MR. JONE ROBINSON
Financial Counselor and Director
Monetary and Capital Markets Department, IMF.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam