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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: "Mr. Jeofrey Cole" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <imf-jeofreycole@rogers.com>
Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2011 19:53:25 -0600
Subject: URGENT FROM Mr. Jeofrey Cole

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUNDS (IMF) HEAD OFFICE NO: 23 ADEBOYE ST, APAPA, and LAGOS. TELEPHONE: +234-705-135-6716 ATTENTION BENEFICIARY, This is to inform you of a very important information which will be of a great help to redeem you from all the difficulties you have been experiencing in getting your long overdue payment due to excessive demand for money from you by both corrupt Bank officials and Courier Companies after which your fund remain unpaid to you. I am Mr. Jeofrey Cole a highly placed official of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). You MUST be aware that reports have reached our office by so many correspondence on the uneasy way which people like you are treated by Various Banks and Courier Companies across Europe to Africa and Asia and we have decided to put a stop to that and that is why I was appointed to handle your transaction here in West Africa. All Governmental and Non-Governmental parasites, NGOs, Finance Companies, Banks, Security Companies and Courier companies which have been in contact with you of late have been instructed to back up from your transaction and you have been advised NOT to respond to them anymore since the IMF is now directly in charge of your payment. You are hereby advised NOT to remit further payment to any institutions with respect to your transaction as your fund will be transferred to you directly from our source. I hope this is clear. Any action contrary to these instructions is at your own risk. Respond to this e-mail on (imf-jeofreycole@rogers.com) or (imf-jeofreycole@hotmail.it) with immediate effect and we shall give you further details on how your fund will be released. Also call me as soon as you send the e-mail so that you will be given an immediate response: Direct Hotline: CALL: +234-803-841-3288. Regards, Mr. Jeofrey Cole. INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUNDS.

Anti-fraud resources: