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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: "MR. EDWARD WATTS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <hortegageorge@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2015 06:23:32 -0700
Subject: Contact Me For Your Compensation Fund Payment

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND
HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
1900 PENNSYLVANIA AVE NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20431, USA
 
 
This Is For Your Urgent Attention.
 
RE: COMPENSATION PAYMENT OF USD1, 500,000.00
Based on the present anti-fraud/scam war, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Anti-Fraud Teams in Collaboration with the World Bank are making sure that Financial Fraud is Completely wiped out The. Internet Service Providers have noticed an increased email traffic hence the action of the security operatives to restrict cyber-crime. 
 
In this regard, One hundred and six (106) bank and government officials have been arrested in so many countries so far and arrest is still going on. We have recovered the total sum of US $ 1.2 Billion from them in both cash and assets confirmed to have come from their victims and foreign beneficiaries' of both contract funds, inheritance funds, lottery winnings and fake relationship. Thousands of email addresses of victims (which include yours) have also been recovered from their address books. It is at this juncture that we are Contacting you Because you are now listed as One of the Beneficiaries of the IMF / World Bank Compensation payment of 2014/2015 batch "A." The International Monetary Fund (IMF) with the World Bank are making Refunds of US $ 1,500,000.00 each to all Foreigners whom his / her Email address is listed on the address book of These Recovered Officials arrested Fraudulent This refund is of Two types: - .. (a) Those who are Beneficiaries of Contract, Inheritance O
R Lottery funds.
 
Your Compensation payment will be Release to you through Our West African Regional Office on your contact where the debts from domiciled. Contact the office below as instruction for the release of your compensation payment has already been passed to them and the issuing bank You have to direct your communication to our West African Regional Office ONLY on the below information to claim your compensation payment:. -
Contact Barrister George Hings Ortega
EMAIL: hortegageorge@gmail.com
Telephone: +234909698214
Endeavour to send the following details Required for Verification and Subsequent Release of your Compensation payment.
================================= ==================
. 1 Full Names: ........................... .......................
. 2 Address: ....................... ...............................
. 3 Telephone / Mobile: ............. ........................
. 4 Age and Gender: .................... ......................
. 5 Nationality: ........................ ...........................
. 6 Occupation: ................... ................................
. 7 Bank Name and Address: ........... .....................
============================= =======================
NOTE: You are HEREBY ADVISED to Disassociate Yourself from any form of Communication with claimed Individuals, Banks, corporate bodies and Government Officials and Follow Our Guidelines.
 
Yours Sincerely,
MR. EDWARD WATTS
Deputy Managing Director IMF,
TEL: +19177371977 Email: info@imf-org.us 

Anti-fraud resources: