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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: "DR.MRS CHRISTINE LAGARDE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <imffundrelease@live.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2012 09:00:49 -0400
Subject: IMF APPROVED PAYMENT LETTER.

IMF APPROVED PAYMENT LETTER.
GOOD DAY TO YOU,
IT IS A GREAT PLEASURE TO CONTACT YOU THIS DAY AS I HAVE JUST BEEN APPOINTED THE NEW CHIEF OF THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF) AND ON ASSUMPTION IN OFFICE I HAVE SEEN YOUR UNTREATED TRANSACTION WITH MY ELSE WHILE PREDECESSOR DR DOMINIQUE STRAUSS KHAN, I HAVE SEEN THE RECORDS OF ALL YOUR PAYMENT MADE IN THE PAST TO (IMF) AND ALSO HAVE A COMPLETE FILES OF YOURS HERE WITH ME.
THIS MAIL IS TO INFORM YOU THAT I AM HERE TO RELEASE WITHOUT ANY DELAY YOUR OUTSTANDING CONTRACT PAYMENT OF $10.7Million USD AS REFLECTED HERE IN MY RECORD TO YOU WITHIN 24HRS FROM WHEN YOU RESPOND TO THIS MAIL.
I ADVISE YOU TO GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS YOU GET THIS MAIL SO THAT I CAN KNOW WHAT ACTUALLY WENT WRONG AND WHY YOU WEREN'T PAID ALONG WITH OTHERS AND YOU ARE ADVISED TO RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL SO THAT I CAN DIRECT YOU TO OUR PAYING BANK FOR THE TRANSFER OF YOUR FUNDS INTO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT.
RE-CONFIRM TO ME THE FOLLOWINGS INFORMATION TO ENABLE THE URGENT PROCESSING OF YOUR PAYMENT.
1.NAME
2.PHONE,FAX AND CELL NUMBER
3.DELIVERY ADDRESS.
4.AGE,PROFESSION AND SEX.
5.COPY OF ID.
ENDEAVOR TO CALL ME AS SOON AS YOU GET THIS MAIL ON MY OFFICIAL NUMBER BELOW IN THIS MAIL.
TREAT AS TOP URGENT.
REGARDS,
DR.MRS CHRISTINE LAGARDE
CHIEF OF THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)
DIRECT E-MAIL: IMF-FUND01@MSN.COM
DIRECT TELEPHONE:+447024094929
 

Anti-fraud resources: