419 scam: Fredrick Lugard <Lugard.@star.ocn.ne.jp> International Monetary Fund.

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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:
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "required 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. )
- "western union" (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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "tax clearance" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "tax clearance" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
- "cotonou" (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.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: Fredrick Lugard <Lugard.@star.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Fredrick Lugard <customercenter22@foxmail.com>
Date: Fri, 15 Jan 2016 23:34:50 +0900 (JST)
Subject: International Monetary Fund.

International Monetary Fund,
700 19th street, Central District,
Cotonou Benin Republic 20431,

PAYMENT ID XXL30.

This office want to notify you that we are aware of your funds transfer which Western Union & Money Gram Department of Benin Republic are transferring to you in the amount of $5,000 USD this morning and we want to inform you that we have {Hijacked} the transfer because the transfer was done without our Notification and approval.

Be inform that any funds due for transfer either Western Union, Money Gram or Direct Bank to Bank Transfer from one Country to another above $850,000 usd must obtain a Money Laundering Certificate covering the transfer from this department to show free from sponsorship of Terrorist Activities or Money Smuggling. You are hereby notified that your payment has been suspended by this office and will remain on hold until a copy of the Money Laundry Certificate is issued to you from this department.

We had a report this morning from the Western Union & Money Gram office under bank that you have met up with your entire fund Transfer requirement and has obtained their Tax Clearance Certificate but you will have to pay us for the Money Laundering Certificate of this transfer and it will cost you $190 for the MONEY LAUNDERING Certificate.

Once we confirm this fee of $190 from you, we will immediately left the suspension places on your fund transfer to enable you pick up your funds immediately, the transfer would have been available to pick up by you, if not this problem. So you send to us the required fee as soon as possible, because with out the fee been sent to us the transfer will not show up in any western union, money gram or Bank Transfer in your country. Now be advice to send the fee today for urgent pick up your funds.

Send the fee with the below details to enable us left the suspension place on your funds transfer of $5,000 usd for immediately pick it up today.

Receiver Name:--- TADY UMEHE
Country: ---- Benin Republic
City: ---- Cotonou
Amount:--- $190 USD.

You should send the money via western union or money gram and send us the payment information as soon as we confirmed this from you today; we will notify the Western Union, money gram or bank transfer to affect the transfer immediately.

Please be inform that this fee has to be sent within 2 days to avoid cancellation of the transaction by this office of "IMF".

N/B make sure you send us your contact phone number and address ASAP.

Sincerely,
Mr. Fredrick Lugard
"IMF" Secretary
Benin Republic.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam