419 scam: "Mr. Paul Wilson" <courier.deliveryagent@yahoo.com> INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND,

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +22999398779 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- imfoffice.beninrepublic@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Paul Wilson" <courier.deliveryagent@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: imfoffice.beninrepublic@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 04:28:14 +0600
Subject: INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND,

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND,
455 AGBOKOU, ANKPA ROAD
OPPOSITE TUNEDE MOTORS COTONOU.
Our ref: IMFDUS3

Attention: Please.

My name is Mr. Paul Wilson, the manager of (IMF) International monetary funds office
here in Benin Republic. I am writing this mail with deep sorrow as saw your name on the
file last week as the one of the most beneficiary which did not receive their fund
compensation valued US$2.5millon which was supposed to been delivery to you, so after
the board executives meeting yesterday it was concluded that your total fund of
US$2.5millon should be convert into ATM Visa Card and I have done it today, so we went
to the delivery company to register your ATM Visa Card. all the necessary arrangement of
delivering your ATM Visa Card was made with DHL Courier Company Ltd here in Cotonou
Benin Republic,

So I'm very happy today because all the movement I made, every thing goes normally. So
only company that agree to carry on the delivery is DHL Courier Company on one
condition, as they found out that the Card is not having insurance coverage on it, more
I rush to insurance company to check the cost of insurance coverage, which they check
the value of the money been loaded into debit card, which the cost of insurance is
$120.00.

Your ATM Visa card is still with me as am talking with you right now, so you have to
send the insurance coverage fee immediately so that I can move with insurance company to
insure your card as soon as possible, payment information below. Send the money through
Western Union and send it immediately OK,

In addition, I am hereby giving your every guarantee and also 100 % percent assurance
that this is the only money you will pay payable and after you pay it you will receive
your ATM Visa Card and start withdrew your fund immediately without any setback, so try
to send this fee today with the provided information below.

1. Receiver name:............. MR.SOLOMON UZOUKWU
2. Country:............. Benin Republic.
3. City :............... Cotonou.
4...Test question:....when
5. Test answer:......today
6..Amount ..........US$120.00

Regards,
Mr. Paul Wilson,
Email:imfoffice.beninrepublic@yahoo.com.hk
Telephone Number:+229 993 98 779
>From International monetary funds

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam