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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <www.inter-moneytary-fund1@live.com>
Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 16:37:31 -0000
Subject: INSTRUCTION TO RELEASE YOUR OVERDUE FUND

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)
INTERNATIONAL LIAISON HEAD OFFICE
NO:23 ADEOLA ODEKU STREET,
VICTORIA ISLAND LAGOS.
Email;-
REF:-XVGNN8809.

INSTRUCTION TO RELEASE YOUR OVERDUE FUND


Attn:Beneficiary,

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 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 Michael Barrett a highly placed official of
the International Monetary Fund (IMF). 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 byVarious 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 wasappointed 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 oflate 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.

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.I hope this is
clear. Any action contraryto this instruction is at your own risk. you are advise to
respond immediately for further details on how your fund will be released into your
designated bank account.below is our contact details,we are expecting your
prompt reply thank
you.

Sincerely,

Dr. Michael Barrett
Executive Director-Int'l Payments
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND
AFRICAN REGIONAL OFFICE.

Anti-fraud resources: