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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: "INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barrwilliams.david@live.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2012 02:22:54 +0300
Subject: INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)
HEAD OFFICE NO: 23 ADEBOYE ST,
APAPA LAGOS-NIGERIA.
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 over due 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 Barrister David Williams a highly placed official of the International
Monetary Fund (IMF).It may interest you to know that reports have reached
our office by so many correspondences on the uneasy way which people like
you are treated by Various Banks and Courier Companies Diplomat(s) across
Europe to Africa and Asia London UK, and we have decided to put a STOP to
that and that is why I was appointed to handle your transaction here in
Nigeria.
 
 
All Governmental and Non-Governmental prostates, NGO's, Finance Companies,
Banks, Security Companies and Diplomat(s) 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. Your fund will be transferred to you
directly from our source with immediate effect and we shall give you further
details on how your fund will be released. You can as well call me as soon
as you send the e-mail so that you will be given an immediate response.
 
The below website can be more reference:
 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4320984.stm
I hope this is clear. Any action contrary to this instruction is at your own
risk. Respond to this e-mail on (barrwilliams.david@live.com ).
 
Regards,
Barrister David Williams

Anti-fraud resources: