419 scam: "IMF OFFICE" <officecontact@pravda.ru> Ready Your Message

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
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.
- +22998373457 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- info.imfbeninrep001@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "IMF OFFICE" <officecontact@pravda.ru>
Reply-To: info.imfbeninrep001@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2011 17:03:10 -0400
Subject: Ready Your Message

Mr. Mark Allen, Senior Regional Representative
International Monetary Fund
37C Zielna, 00-108 Warszawa Poland
Tel: + 48 (22) 3308 6700
Fax: + 48 (22) 3348 6500

Attention,
Listen carefully for this information, as courtesy demands; I am Mr. Mark
Allen, Senior Regional Representative The Operations Manager in IMF head
office Poland. There is information I think might interest you.

First of all, I do not know if I am talking to the right person, but if you
are the owner of this email ID please we got an information today that your
E-MAIL address won you the total sum of US$2.850, 000.00 and up till now you
did not claim the money because the Bank officials there in Africa is trying
to direct the money to their personally bank account.
We got this information today during our appointment with the Central Bank of
Benin Republic Directors meeting today and we have made all the necessary
arrangement with Ecobank Plc Director Dr Bankole Williams to load the whole
money into ATM MASTER CARD and it has now been arranged for payment through
(ATM MASTER CARD) this will be processed and send over to you which you will
use to withdraw your money in any ATM MACHINE in any part of the world.

All you need to do right now is just email Dr Bankole Williams give him your
full contact information as details below;
Full names: __________________________
Address:_____________________________________
Country:______________________________________
Occupation/Position: _________________________________
Tel/House /private_________________________________

As soon as you send him those data’s they will send you the (ATM MASTER CARD)
through TNT courier service because they are the cheaper courier company there
as we confirmed.

Dr Bankole Williams will ask you for the (ATM MASTER CARD) mailing fee and it
is your responsibility to send them the shipping fee which is only $45.00 and
don’t send them more than $45.00

Contact Dr Bankole Williams with this telephone number +229 98 373 457 or
E-mail him on [ info.imfbeninrep001@gmail.com ]
Make sure you contact him today to ensure that they will send out your ATM
card tomorrow, He will also furnish as you will withdrawing the funds out of
the card once you receive it.

Mr. Mark Allen, Senior Regional Representative
International Monetary Fund
37C Zielna, 00-108 Warszawa Poland
Tel: + 48 (22) 3308 6700
Fax: + 48 (22) 3348 6500

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam