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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "Christine M. Lagarde" <info@compensation.org>
Reply-To: paul.gilstrap1970@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 20 Oct 2017 16:07:34 +0300
Subject: IMF FUND ALERT


Owner/Fund Beneficiary The sum of $4.6 million. out of your over due total =
sum has been approved for payment through ATM cash card system after all at=
tempts to pay you through bank, and diplomatic courier failed. I am glad to=
send you this email to notify you concerning your ATM CARD which is in our=
custody for the past few months. We want you to understand that the delive=
ry fees is being paid by the authorities and what you need to do now is to =
contact us immediately so that the delivery will commence to your door step=
as soon as possible. Note that you are to pay for the safe security keepin=
g fees of your ATM CARD which is just $175 Dollars only, so that immediate =
effect will take place for the delivery of your ATM CARD. If you know you w=
on't be able to pay for the safe security keeping fee of your ATM CARD whic=
h is very mandated, please do not respond back to this email. Please i repe=
at myself again if you know that you will not be able to pay for the safe s=
ecurity keeping of your ATM CARD which is just $175 please i beg of you not=
to respond to this email because it will not help. Do fill this informatio=
n and get back to us as soon as You received this message, thereby sending =
this confidential details to this e-mail for security reasons or call or te=
xt Mr. Paul Gilstrap for the immediate release of your fund: ASSIGNED AGENT=
: paul.gilstrap1970@yahoo.com INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND(IMF) : imfcompens=
ation.dpt@zoho.com Cell Phone: +2348091473285 Reconfirm your mailing addres=
s. =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Full =
Name:......... Sex:................... Mailing Address:.......... Personal =
Phone Number........... Occupation:.................. Thanks for your under=
standing. Sincerely, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Sorry if you receive=
d this letter in your spam, Due to recent connection error here in the coun=
try.

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