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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: "Mr. Andrew Tweedie" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <fund_unit02@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2011 01:12:16 +0800
Subject: RE: PLEASE CONFIRM IF YOU AUTHORIZED HER

Attention: Beneficiary,

My name is Mr. Andrew Tweedie of the International Monetary Fund investigation unit. A letter was forwarded to our office here in London UK today the 11TH Of JULY, 2011 requesting that your unclaimed fund be paid to Theresa Morris.

In the said letter of change of beneficiary/ownership, representatives of Ms Theresa Morris stated that you are critically infected by Cancer of the Lungs and that you have some few months to live according to the doctor's report so therefore that you have given her the authorization to claim your fund on your behalf and as such your fund should be paid to her as the next of kin to you.

Because of the elaborate global scam, we decided to contact you for confirmation. If after seven working days, no response is received from you, it will be assumed that you are sick indeed and as such authorization and approval will be granted on behalf of Theresa Morris to claim/receive your fund.

You are advise to reconfirm your Information and how you want your fund paid to you without further delay if you are still alive. Send your response to my email address: mr_andrew_t@yahoo.com.hk

Below is the information you are expected to re-confirm,

1. Full Name:____________________________
2. Address:______________________________
3. Nationality:____________Sex___________
4. Age:____________Date of Birth:________
5. Occupation:___________________________
6. Phone:_______Fax:_____________________
7. State of Origin:_______Country:_______
8. Driver's license:____________________
9. Copy Of Your Identity:________________

You can also call for clarification +447045721928

Thanks

Regards

Mr. Andrew Tweedie
Dir. Finance Department
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF).
Tel: +447045721928

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