419 scam: "LEGISLATIVE AFFAIR OFFICER (IMF)"<IMF@INFO.LT> From The Desk of: Mr. Joseph Reed.

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "huge sum of money" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "fund beneficiary" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +27732534685 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- joreedd@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "LEGISLATIVE AFFAIR OFFICER (IMF)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <imflegislativeaffairs@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2014 12:05:23 -0800
Subject: From The Desk of: Mr. Joseph Reed.

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)/World Bank
Millbank Tower, 12th Floor 21-24;
Millbank London SW1P 4QP ENGLAND
Website: www.imf.org

>From The Desk of: Mr. Joseph Reed.
LEGISLATIVE AFFAIR OFFICER.
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
JOHANNESBURG (S.A)
TEL/FAX: +27732534685

Attention,

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an organization of 186 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world. As one of the outcomes of the annual International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB) summit held on August 21-8-2014, it was decided that IMF will monitor the payment of funds currently floating in the international financial database. Consequently, we write to notify you that you are among those that have a huge sum of money credited in their names for transfer and is currently floating in the international banking community.

These funds originated from unpaid contractor sum, inheritance/next of kin, Late government employees retirement fund and lottery beneficiaries that originated from Europe, Asia Plus Middle east, American and Africa. You are among the list of individuals and companies whose unpaid funds have been approved for payment through China CITIC Bank. Under the stipulated guidelines of the United Nations Economic and Social Council, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other member countries of the United Nations, any amount of money that has been found in the international financial database waiting to be transferred without claims after the submission of every payment report shall be confiscated and forfeited to the United Nations account.

Meanwhile, during the rectification of our payment system we discovered that one Mr. Frank Edwards has forwarded his banking information to our paying department stating that you instructed him to claim the funds ($5 million) on your behalf. Please find below his disclosed Banking information for your-re-confirmation:

Mr. Frank .E. Edwards
Bank Name: Wells Fargo Bank
Account Number: 1043903771
Routing: 2093841
United State of America

Urgently confirm to us if you have authorized Mr. Frank Edwards to claim your funds on your behalf to avoid transferring your funds into a wrong account, because your name was found in the original list of beneficiary With China CITIC Bank which is the paying bank & whose fund is Overdue for payment. We hereby ask you to contact this office within 7 days of receiving this notification to enable us advice you on how to claim your funds or consider your fund confiscated. You are advised to reconfirm Your; Name, Full Address, Age, and Cell number to joreedd@gmail.com or better still reach my cell phone number on +27785807324 for a brief conversation. Thank you and remain blessed.

I will be expecting to hear from you.

Yours Faithfully
Mr. Joseph Reed.

-----------------------------------------WARNING------------------------------------
This email is from the International Monetary Fund, beneficiaries are advised to adhere strictly to directives. Any fund beneficiary who ignores instruction will be doing so at his/her own risk.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam