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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Office of the IMF" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <imfagencychristinelagarde@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2015 08:27:40 -0400
Subject: UNPAID FUND RECOVERED LETTER

Office of the IMF Managing Director
700 19th St NW Washington, D.C.
DC 20431, USA
Attn Dear,
 
                                 2015 UNPAID FUND RECOVERED LETTER
 
In our efforts to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability and facilitate individual and company economic growth. The IMF through our international monitoring network has recovered your UNPAID FUND that has been on hold.  We hereby advise you to reconfirm your information below to enable our payment bank, Citibank contact you for cash payment immediately.
 
Re-confirm as follows
 
(1) Your Full Name........?
(2) Full Residential Address: (P.O.BOX NOT ALLOWED)?
(3) Country/State..........?
(4) Beneficiary Amount?
(5) Direct and Current Phone?
(6) Passport identification?
 
Note: The above information is necessary to certify that you are the rightful beneficiary of the said funds As soon as we confirm these information, our payment Bank (CITIBANK/USA) will contact you for immediate payment.
 
Thanks
 
Your sincere
Ms. Christine Lagarde,
IMF Managing director
+1 (916) 740-6207
www.imf.org

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