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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: "INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUNDS(IMF)" <info@imf.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: imonetary_funds@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:24:41 -0300 (PYST)
Subject: INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)








INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)

MADRID OFFICE ADDRESS:C/PRINCESA 31-5 PLANTA N'2 28008 MADRID ESPANA

REF:-XVGNN8809

Dear Fund Beneficiary,

This is to intimate 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 Mr. Mark Smith, 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 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 Madrid Spain.

All Governmental and Non-Governmental prostates, NGOs, Finance Companies,
Banks, Security Companies and Courier companies 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.
You are hereby advised NOT to remit further payment to any institutions with
respect to your transaction as your fund will be transferred to you directly
from our source.I hope this is clear. Any action contrary to this
instruction is at your own risk.

Respond to this e-mail on (imonetary_funds@yahoo.com.hk) with immediate
effect
and we shall give you further details on how your fund will be released to
you.
Awaiting your urgent reponse.

Regards,
Mr.Mark Smith

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