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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: "info@imf.org" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <imf.investigations@europe.com>
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2015 04:24:23 +0700
Subject: DEBT SETTLEMENT COMMITTEE

IMF GLOBAL DEBT SETTLEMENT COMMITTEE
ASIA PAYMENT OFFICE
JAKARTA INDONESIA
OUR REF: IMF/PYMS/INTER-14
UNO/WBF LM-05-371/LM-11-371

Attn: Sir/Madam,

The IMF Global Debt Committee in conjunction with World Bank has
received your pending payment, with international payment voucher number
(WB-11014-05) amounting to (US$10.5M) Your name was shortlisted among
others whose international payment has long been overdue for payment.

With reference number UN/IMF/WBF 05014/05, this amount has been
scheduled for immediate release via our committees authorized
corresponding bank overseas. The IMF was alarmed on its recent findings
on global banking inside practices, perpetuated and instigated by
unauthorized banking officials. This unprofessional activity in some
banks has resulted in international wire delays, permanent frozen of
funds and seizures. In other to resolve this crises, the IMF in
conjunction with various foreign Governments and financial agencies has
audited and authorized release and payment of 291 frozen assets and
funds to victims.

Due to the corrupt and inefficient Banking Systems in some countries
involved, the Payments are to be supervised by the 'IMF' Officials
through our corresponding Banks. According to the number of applicants
at hand, half of the victims are from the United States. You are hereby
warned not to communicate or duplicate this message to any ongoing
communication between you and any individual or bank in connection with
your lost for any reason whatsoever, this is to avoid conflict with
ongoing criminal investigations.

You are advised to reconfirm to this committee the following details,
to enable us issue irrevocable payment order to our authorized paying
bank.

Your Full Name:.........................
Your Office or Home Address:............
Your Personal/Reachable Telephone:......
Your Occupation:........................

Yours Faithfully
Hon. Tom Woods
(Chairman) IMF Global Debt Committee
Jakarta Indonesia

Anti-fraud resources: