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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "info@imf.org" <test@sysware.co.kr>
Reply-To: <jbecker.imf.org@usa.com>
Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2017 12:26:47 +0100
Subject: FROM INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND,(IMF)

DEAR APPROVED BENEFICIARY,

HOW ARE YOU TODAY? I HAVE BEEN DIRECTED BY THE CHAIRMAN, INTERNATIONAL MONITORY FUND (IMF) CHRISTINE LAGARDE TO FIND OUT FROM YOU WHY YOU HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CLAIM THE FUND WHICH WAS ALLOCATED TO YOU.

THE IMF ORGANIZATION WANTS TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANY DISCREPANCIES OR ANY MISINFORMATION THAT BROUGHT DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN YOU AND THE BANK, THAT LED TO THE DELAY OF RELEASING THE FUND TO YOU. THE CHAIRMAN OF THIS ORGANIZATION HAS ALSO ASKED THIS DEPARTMENT TO GET YOUR REASONS IN ORDER TO CONFIRM IF YOU WERE ASKED TO MAKE UNNECESSARY EXPENSES THAT WAS WAIVED AND NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DIRECTIVES.

PLEASE CONFIRM THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE CAN PROCEED ON OUR INVESTIGATION AS REQUIRED BY THE CONCERNED AUTHORITIES.

ANTICIPATING YOUR URGENT RESPONSE.

SINCERELY,

MR BECKER JONSON
DIRECTOR, IMF MONITORING UNIT
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND
700 19TH STREET, N.W.
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20431

Anti-fraud resources: