419 scam: "International Monetary Funds"<imf@com.org> ARE YOU DEAD OR ALIVE???

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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:

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:
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "International Monetary Funds" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <investigationoffice86@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 11 Apr 2010 02:10:54 -0700
Subject: ARE YOU DEAD OR ALIVE???

Attention:Beneficiary,

A power of attorney was forwarded to our office this morning by two gentle
men, one of them is an American national and he is MR DAVID DEANE by name
while the other person is MR... JACK MORGAN by name a CANADIAN national.

This gentlemen claimed to be your representative, and this power of attorney
stated that you are died, they brought an account to replace your
information in other to claim your fund of $12.5 Million USD dollars which it is right
now lying DORMANT and UNCLAIMED, below is the new account they have submitted:

BANK.-HSBC CANADA
QUEZON AVE. DELTA BRANCH
QUEZON CITY, CANADA
ACCOUNT NO. 2984-0008-66
SWIFT CODE. BOPIPHMM

Be further informed that this power of attorney also stated that you suffered
and died of a throat cancer. You are therefore given 24hrs to confirm the
truth in this information, If you are still alive, You are to contact us back
immediately, Because we work 24 hrs just to ensure that we monitor all the
activities going on in regards to the transfer of beneficiaries inheritance and
contract payment.

You are to call this office immediately for clarifications on this matter as
we shall be available 24 hrs to speak with you and give you the necessary
guidelines on how to ensure that your payment is wired to you immediately.
Just also be informed that any further delay from your side could be
dangerous, as we would not be held responsible of wrong payment.

Below is the burial pictures brought in confirmation that you are dead.

Thank you.

Dr. George Brown
International Monetary Funds Agents

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam