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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: "Sandra Urwyler." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <nyofficedoseitall@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2022 04.44.30 +0100
Subject: Are you Alive? (Covid -19 Security Alert) 24

Attn: Sir/Madam.
                   
                                VITAL UPDATE
 
 
Good day,  this update is from International Monetary Fund (IMF), Please confirm this information. Did you direct Dr Kevin Downing from United State to claim your fund?  He wrote to us stating that you are among the Covid-19 death victim in their hospital and as the doctor closer to you, you authorized him to reach Bank and complete the transfer of your fund to his bank account, he sends his account detail to the bank in charge of your transaction for immediate release of your fund to him.
 
Please, if you are alive kindly reconfirm to this office, as a matter of urgency without additional delay to enable us authenticate this Dr. Kevin claim if is true or false, so as to enable us release your fund through online transfer/E-banking system without revealing your banking details to anybody or not. You are requested to fill and send the below information's for security reasons and for verification purposes so that your fund will be remitted to your nominated bank account or to any of your approved representative, the verification information's needed is as follows-:
 
1. Your name:
2. Your full address:
3. Your telephone
4. Age:
5. Sex:
6. Your occupation.
 
The Bank was supposed to Release this Funds to him but we gave them and instruction not to do so until we verify the legitimacy of his claim from you first, due to the Nature of our job, we will not want to make any mistake approving this fund to the wrong person or persons that is not the recognized beneficiary to this your Fund. Kindly clarify us on this issue before we approve this Payment to this foreigner/representative whom came on your behalf, I'm waiting for your reply as soon as possible.
 
Thanks, and God bless you. We look forward to give you a better service in near future.
 
Yours Faithfully,
Sandra Urwyler.
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
General Secretariat
Federal Department of Finance IMF
Bundesgasse 3 3003 Bern, Switzerland
===================================================================
Warning: This transmission is confidential and intended solely for the person(s) or organization(s) to whom it is addressed. It may contain privileged and/or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, you are not authorized to copy, distribute or take any action in reliance on it.If you have received this transmission in error, please notify the sender by reply email and delete this transmission

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