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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: "INTERNATIONALMONETARY FUND(IMF)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <imf_agent147@mail.kz>
Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2011 03:56:04 +1000
Subject: INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND(IMF)00).

    INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND(IMF)
    FINANCIAL MONITORY DEPARTMENT/UNIT.
    100 Broad Street Main Ave Victoria Island, 20004
    Phone/FAX: +234-8136694069
    HEAD OFFICE NO: 23 ADEBOYE ST,APAPA LAGOS.
    INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND(IMF)
 
    ATTN:
 
    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
 
 
    It may interest you to know that reports have reached our
    office by so many correspondence on the uneasy way which people like you are
    treated by Various Banks and Courier Companies across Europe to Africa and Asia
    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 parasites, 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
    transfered to you directly from our source. I hope t
    his is clear. Any action contrary to this instructions is at your own risk.
 
 
    Respond to this e-mail on (imf.agent@att.net) with immediate effect and we
    shall give you further details on how your fund will be released. Also call me
    as soon as you send the e-mail so that you will be given an immediate response:
    Contact Agent Name: Mr Jeoefrey Cole
    Email: imf_agent147@mail.kz
    Contact Number: +234-8136694069
 
    Regards,
    Mr Jeofrey Cole
    INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND
 

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