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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: "INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND AGENCY (IMF)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bruce87@mail.ua>
Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2015 13:25:56 -0700
Subject: URGENT RESPOND CONCERNING YOUR OUTSTANDING PAYMENT OF $10,500.000.00

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND AGENCY (IMF):
INTERNATIONAL OPERATION DEPT,UNITED STATE
Phone Number (414) 810-2894
53005 BROOKFIELD ,
Wisconsin,
USA

Mon-Fri 8am-4pm and 9am-3pm Weekends

Good Day ,

RE-OUTSTANDING IMF PAYMENT:

Good day, this is to inform you of your Long overdue Payment outstanding in
our Records. I saw your name in the Central Computer among list of unpaid
inheritance claims individuals and have to update your information through
this email contact for immediate confirmation.Your name appeared among the
beneficiaries who will receive part-payment of US$10.000,000 million (Ten
Million Dollars) and it has been approved already for payment months ago.

However we received an email from one Mr.Kennedy Franklin who told us he is
your next of kin and that you died in a car accident four months back.He has also
submitted his account information to the IMF office for dept reconciliation department
for transfer of the fund to him as your inheritor.We are now verifying by contacting
your email address as we have in our record before we can order our bank to make the
transfer into his account and for us to conclude confirmation if you are
dead or not.

So,If you are still ALIVE, Please confirm response immediately to avoid
sending your Inheritance to a wrong person.We often encountered similar incidents,so we
are taking our time to investigate Mr.Kennedy Franklin's claim about your death hence
he positioned himself as your next of kin. Upon this, i request you send your
full personal information as soon as possible to enable this department finalize
the transfer of the fund release to your nominated foreign Bank Account.


CONFIDENTIAL NOTICE: This E-Mail is intended only for the use of the
individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is
privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law.Once again,
I apologize to you on behalf of International Monetary fund Agency towards
this contact and proper confirmation required urgently from you if alive.


Thanks,

Yours Sincerely
Mr.David Lipton
First Deputy Managing Director
International Monetary Fund Agency (United States)

Anti-fraud resources: