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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: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: IMFOffice100001@yeah.net
Date: Thu, 23 Feb 2017 16:19:38 +0200
Subject: ***SPAM*** International Monetary Fund.


-- Dear Beneficiaries, We the IMF would like to bring to the notice of the =
general public that several variants of financial scam letters purporting t=
o be sanctioned by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or authored by hig=
h ranking IMF officials are currently in circulation, and may appear on off=
icial letterhead containing the IMF logo. The scam letters instruct potenti=
al victims to contact the IMF for issuance of a =93Certificate of Internati=
onal Capital Transfer=94 or other forms of approval, to enable them receive=
s large sums of monies as beneficiaries. The contact e-mail information is =
always BOGUS and unsuspecting individuals are then requested to send their =
personal banking details which the scammers utilize for their fraudulent ac=
tivities. Contrary to what is stated in these scam e-mails, letters, or pho=
ne conversations, the IMF does NOT authorize, verify, monitor, or assist in=
contract or inheritance payments between third parties and/or Governments,=
nor does it endorse the activities of any bank, financial institution, or =
other public or private agency. For purposes of clarification, the IMF is a=
n inter-governmental organization whose transactions and operations are car=
ried out directly with its member countries. If you have already received s=
uch e-mails, you are advised to terminate all further contacts with the sca=
mmers, and in the event that you have sent them funds, you can contact Mr. =
Frank Daniel to assist you and have all complain forwarded to the EFCC in N=
igeria. We apologize for all loss and with the help of the Nigeria governme=
nt, we were able to recover so much money from scammers (EFCC), that is why=
we are compensating you with a token payment of $2.500.000 US dollars, fro=
m the Nigeria government. To receive this Compensation payment, you are adv=
ised to contact out IMF officer Barrister Frank Daniel. To assist you with =
the Directions on the receiving of your compensation payment, Please Note: =
To receive your compensation payment, you will be asked to pay a refundable=
fee to the bank for the setting up of an online banking account which will=
be created for you as the beneficiary or you can choose to follow to the p=
rocedures by coming to Nigeria for your funds to get to you, kindly contact=
the Attorney with your information needed below to proceed for you to rece=
ive your funds. 1. Full Name .................................. 2. Sex ....=
............................ 3. Residential Address .......................=
...... 4. Fax/ Phone Number ............................ 5. Country .......=
............... kindly reconfirm the above information, it's for the benefi=
t of the receiving of your Funds. We are once again sorry for your loose th=
e attorney will explain to you that is needed for you to receive your funds=
. If you know this funds is not related to you please do not insult nor rep=
ly. Contact Name: Barrister Frank Daniel Email: IMFOffice100001@yeah.net Be=
st Regards. International Monetary Fund. Mrs.Christine Lagarde=20

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