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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: "I.M.F LONDON"<info@imf.org>
Reply-To: <abbeybank-uk@katamail.com>
Date: Sat, 4 Jul 2009 10:30:40 +0100
Subject: PAYMENT NOTIFICATION..

Attention We wish to notify you that the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has finally instructed for the release of your overdue payment which has been in our custody for verification. This payment has been under Scrutiny for a while now, we investigated and found that there was a possible money laundering activity in play due to involvement of unlicensed individuals, and suspicious corrupt officials who have been in possession of this fund transfer earlier after we have noticed criminal activities of extortion. We have instructed our corresponding bank here in London England, Abbey Bank plc, for further credit to pay you your Inheritance/Contract interest fund worth USD8.3M. You are advised to contact the bank with your full information to enable them process your fund transfer accordingly without further delay or protocol. But you must be advised that Abbey Bank plc, might have their own obligation for transfer which you are strictly advised to follow their instructions as we have cleared them for good performance, good banking and law-abiding records. The following underlisted informations are to be forwarded to the bank: 1. Your full names...2.Your address...3.Your direct telephone number...4.Your form of identification...5.Your occupation and age. Upon the receipt of your response, the paying bank, Abbey Bank plc will proceed for immediate payment of your fund as soon as they receive the required information for proper confirmation of your payment. Please kindly contact the Abbey bank plc which is the paying bank through this E-MAIL: abbeybank-uk@katamail.com Yours truly, Mr. Dominique Strauss-Kahn IMF Managing Director

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