419 scam: "Wolfgang K Benneckenstein"<wolfgang@imf.org> International Monetary Fund (IMF)-UrgentACKED INFOPŒë¸"

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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)
- "lagos" (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.
- +2348073089969 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Wolfgang K Benneckenstein" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <presidentwolfang@9.cn>
Date: Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:02:48 -0700
Subject: International Monetary Fund (IMF)-Urgent

From the Desk of: Wolfgang K Benneckenstein
The President, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Regional Headquarter Lagos, Nigeria
Tel: +234-80-73089969

Intercepted Transfer of $10.5million

Attn: Beneficiary

I am the President International Monetary Fund (IMF), Regional Headquarters in Nigeria, West Africa, i am in charge of releasing unpaid fund emanating from Africa. We noticed you had unpaid funds to the tune of 10.5million. Your funds will be paid to you from our reserve and trade account with VAT KB Pivdencombank Ukraine.

Note we can only pay you through wire transfer. You are advised to indicate your preferred mode of payment so that we can now register it in our database and necessary arrangement will be made within 72hours. Be advised that Mr. Michael Andonka (the former attorney General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Governor Sanusi Lamido and Kayode Tokunboh has made several attempts to divert your funds to unknown account in London but we intercepted their action base on the premise that we have the sole responsibility to pay you.

Call me immediately you receive this email message for oral and important discussion. Upon your response, i shall send you the Bank Guarantee so that you view and verify the guarantee worth 500Million euros raised in my name as the director of international payment Mr. Wolfgang K. Benneckenstein. Upon your response further correspondence will be mailed to you and your funds will be released within 72hours base on your compliance with our instructions.

Therefore immediately furnish me with the under-listed information.

Your Full Name
Your Home Address
Country
Telephone & Fax
Occupation & Position in office

Looking forward to your earliest response.

Yours faithfully,

Wolfgang K Benneckenstein
President, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Tel: +234-80-73089969

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam