419 scam: Mrs Linda Ikeji IMF Officer <spiaggione@alice.it> YOUR URGENT UPDATE FROM (IMF) OFFICE

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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:

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:
- "moneygram" (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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: Mrs Linda Ikeji IMF Officer <spiaggione@alice.it>
Reply-To: moneygram_newdelhiindia@xd.ae
Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2014 06:50:08 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: YOUR URGENT UPDATE FROM (IMF) OFFICE

Attn dear,Finally $5,000 was sent to you today out of your total $25,000.00USD
here is the Reference Number(75604779) senders name Richard okafor but you will
not pick it up until you pay $175 usd for the activation of your payment file,
this instruction was given to us by IMF and united nation to send your
compensation price you will receiving $5,000 per day till total fund $25,000.00
USD is send to you complete, Reconfirm your full details name/ tele phone/
city to enable us proceed with another payment contact Money Gram

Here is the information where you can send the Money,
RCEIVER NAME...MR. EGWUOBA DOMINIC EKENE
COUNTRY .......... INDIA
CITY .................NEW DELHI
AMOUNT..................$175 USD
director:
Rev. kevin Anthony
E-mail: moneygram_newdelhiindia@xd.ae
Tell phone +919582851967

Regard
Mrs Linda Ikeji (IMF)Officer.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam