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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: "FRANK BILL" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <frankbill20027@gala.net>
Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2011 17:51:04 +1100
Subject: IMPORTANT NOTE ...

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)/World Bank
Milbank Tower, 12th Floor 21-24;
Milbank London SW1P 4QP ENGLAND
 
 
 
Attn: Beneficiary/Next of kin,
 
 
STOP ORDER FROM THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)/World Bank
 
 
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 2nd-7th May, 2010, 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 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 under the supervision of United Kingdom representative office of the International Monetary Fund.
 
 
In view of This, we bring to your notice about the due process of your Outstanding your payment, which was halted by the  IMF by stopping the telex unit to pause the transfer of your fund to your nominated bank account.As a result of this development verification conducted by the IMF on your payment file which has been endorsed for payment awaiting your confirmations.
 
In view of several efforts already made by us to contact you for the following reasons based on the new account submitted to this office on your behalf
 
(1) My Office desks have just received a sworn affidavit from to re-route your payment into a new bank account number as stated: VACAP Federal Credit Union,1700 Robin Hood Road, Richmond, VA 23220.Account number 32501.of Mr. RAINER
HESSE.The sum of US$10.5m USD. (Ten Million Five Five Hundred Thousand
United States Dollars Only)
 
(2) Please, confirm to our department if you have instructed Mr. RAINER HESSE to appoint an attorney/agent on your behalf thereby asking that the receive
cash call remittance on your behalf.
 
(3) It has come to our notice that you are being contacted by unauthorized Individuals with respect to your  payment but unfortunately this office is not aware of your unofficial dealings and warned that it is at your own risk.
 
(4) Please, also confirm if you have authorized Mr.RAINER HESSE to change your banking particulars to the following particulars stated below: VACAP FederalCredit Union,1700 Robin Hood Road, Richmond, VA 23220. Account number 3250163
also re-confirm your Contract Number, Contract Amount, Private Telephone and Fax number, your e-mail address, Office or home address so that we can crosscheck it with our file records.
 
We have decided to contact you for re-verification because we suspected that Mr. RAINER HESSE is trying to divert your money through the sworn affidavit into a new different bank account. You are advised to call me or email back
upon the receipt of this mail to enable me advice you on how to go about this matter.
 
Yours faithfully
 
Mr.Frank Bill.
Coordinator, International Debt Settlement Unit
 

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