419 scam: "INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)"<ossbornnegeorgeimf@imf.org> IMPORTANT

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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:
- "processing 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. )
- "million united states dollars" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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.
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.
- +447024055579 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <imfmonetaryunit@qq.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2013 14:02:39 -0700
Subject: IMPORTANT

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)
164 DE-80939 Berkshire,London,
United Kingdom.

Good day beneficiary,

After a board meeting with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) director, Christine Lagarde, the US president, Barack Obama and the Committee on Fund Management and Payments newly inaugurated by the World Financial Services Authority of The United Nations. The sum $10,000,000.00 (Ten Million United States Dollars) has been approved
for payment this last quarters 2013.

The main objectives of the board meeting with the IMF director, the US president and the committee on fund management, was to investigate and approve the release of all outstanding unpaid/unclaimed funds owed by banks, governments or individuals all over the globe through contract /inheritance and lottery payments due to be paid to
the rightful beneficiaries within the last ten years.

However, your e-mail was found among the fifty contacts to be paid this last quarters and considering the amount approved $10,000,000.00 (Ten Million United States Dollars) for payment this last quarters 2013, the first five (5) beneficiaries to re- confirm their names, occupation and direct telephone numbers to enable us
update their payment file will be paid two million United States dollars each this last quarters 2013.

Finally, waiver has been granted in your favor by the committees involved and the only fee that you are advised to pay for the processing and release of your over due fund is $135 only. Kindly get back to me immediately with the requested details above and also request for the instructions that you will need in sending the processing fee to the payment department.
Yours sincerely
George Gideon Oliver Osborne
DIRECTOR (I.M.F)
UNITED KINGDOM

Tel :+447024055579

Tel :+447024040198

Fax :+448442739648

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam