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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: "INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <intermonetaryfund79@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 11 Apr 2011 07:23:08 -0700
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT NOTIFICATION

YOUR PAYMENT NOTIFICATION
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)
HEAD OFFICE NO: 23 LAGOS STATE,
Abuja Nigeria
TEL+234-8168646225
 
INSTRUCTION TO RELEASE YOUR INHERITANCE FUND
 
ATTENTION:
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. John Lee 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 U.K and we have decided to put a stop to that and that is why I was appointed to handle your transaction here in Nigeria.
 
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..
The most annoying thing is that the bad officials wont tell you the truth that on no account will they ever release the fund to you, instead they allow you spend money unnecessarily, I do not intend to work here all the days of my life, I can release this fund to you if you can certify me of my security.
I needed to help you release the fund because you need to know the statues of your funds and cause for the delay, please this is like a Mafia setting in Nigeria, and you may not understand it because you are not a Nigerian.
Listed below are the mafia's and banks behind the non release of your funds that i managed to sneak out for your kind perusal.
 
PLEASE CHECK AMONG THESE NAMES IF THERE IS ANY ONE AMONG THEN
WHO HAVE SCAMED YOU, IF YES GET BACK TO ME FOR LEGAL ACTION
TO BE TAKEN.
1) Prof. Charles soludo (CBN)
2) Senator David Mark
3) Chief Lamido Sanusi (CBN)
4) John Rob (Barclay's bank plc)
5) Mrs. Stella Brown (Barclay's bank plc)
6) Ronald Franklin
7) Barrister Ucheuzo Williams
8) Mr. Ernest Chukwudi Obi
9) Mr. Mike Jombo
Deputy Governor - Policy / Board Member
10) Mr. Tunde Lemo
Deputy Governor - Financial Sector Surveillance / Board
Member
(11) Mrs. W. D. A. Mshelia
Deputy Governor - Corporate Services / Board Members
12) Mrs. Okonjo Iweala
13) Mrs. Rita Ekwesili
 
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 (intermonetaryfund79@yahoo.com) with immediate effect and we shall give you further details on how your fund will be released.
Reconfirm the information bellow
1. Full Name:
2. Address:
3 Nationalities:
4. Age: Date of Birth:
5. Occupation:
6. Phone: Mobile/Cellular.....................Fax:
7. State of Origin:
8. Copy of your identity Card
YOURS SINCERELY,
MR JOHN LEE.
Tell +234-8168646225
 
 

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