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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <imfmonetaryunit201@foxmail.com>
Date: Fri, 4 Oct 2013 00:23:46 -0700
Subject: Re: URGENT PAYMENT NOTIFICATION !!

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)
164 DE-80939 Berkshire,London,
United Kingdom.
 
Good day beneficiary,
 
After a board meeting with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) director, Christine Lagarde, the US president, Barack Obama and the Committee on Fund Management and Payments newly inaugurated by the World Financial Services Authority of The United Nations. The sum $10,000,000.00 (Ten Million United States Dollars) has been approved
for payment this last quarters 2013
 
The main objectives of the board meeting with the IMF director, the US president and the committee on fund management, was to investigate and approve  the release of all outstanding unpaid/unclaimed funds owed by banks, governments or individuals all over the globe through contract /inheritance and lottery payments due to be paid to
the rightful beneficiaries within the last ten years.
 
However, your e-mail was found among the fifty contacts to be paid this last quarters and considering the amount approved $10,000,000.00 (Ten Million United States Dollars) for payment this last quarters 2013, the first five (5) beneficiaries to re- confirm their names, occupation and direct telephone numbers to enable us
update their payment file will be paid two million United States dollars each this last quarters 2013.
 
Finally, waiver has been granted in your favor by the committees involved and the only fee that you are advised to pay for the processing and release of your over due fund is $135 only. Kindly get back to me immediately with the requested details above and also request for the instructions that you will need in sending the processing fee to the payment department.
Yours sincerely
George Gideon Oliver Osborne
DIRECTOR (I.M.F)
UNITED KINGDOM
Tel :+447024055579
Tel :+447024040198
Fax :+448442739648

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