joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
 Free trial for 30 days
   jwSpamSpy
Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: "Ms. Christine Lagarde," (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ms.christinelagardes@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2015 23:41:27 +0100
Subject: YOUR URGENT RESPONCE NEEDED.

Office of the IMF Managing Director
700 19th St NW Washington, D.C.
DC 20431, USA
 
Attn Dear,
 
                        2015 LAST QUARTER UNPAID FUND RECOVERED LETTER
 
This is to officially inform you that we are having our last quarter audit account and in effort to make sure that all beneficiaries receive their fund before the audit of the last quarter of 2015.
 
The board of directors of IMF in conjunction with Citibank has reach a resolution that you will you will be allowed to receive your fund after the confirmation of your details.
 
In our efforts to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability and facilitate individual and company economic growth. The IMF through our international monitoring network has recovered your UNPAID FUND that has been on hold.  We hereby advise you to reconfirm your information below to enable our payment bank, Citibank contact you for cash payment immediately.
 
Re-confirm as follows
 
(1) Your Full Name........?
(2) Full Residential Address: (P.O.BOX NOT ALLOWED)?
(3) Country/State..........?
(4) Beneficiary Amount?
(5) Direct and Current Phone?
(6) Passport identification?
 
Note: The above information is necessary to certify that you are the rightful beneficiary of the said funds As soon as we confirm these information, our payment Bank (CITIBANK/USA) will contact you for immediate payment.
 
Thanks
 
Ms. Christine Lagarde,
IMF Managing director
+1 (724) 635-5043
www.imf.org

Anti-fraud resources: