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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: "International Monetary Fund (IMF)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <g.o000000000@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 20 Jan 2016 13:12:52 +0200
Subject: REPLY BACK IMMEDIATELY !!!

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)
DEPT: WORLD DEBT RECONCILIATION AGENCIES.


ADVISE: YOUR OUTSTANDING PAYMENT NOTIFICATION


This is to notify you that a power of Attorney was forwarded to our office this morning by Mrs Grace William and Clementina James both an American national.

This Women, one claimed to be your Attorney and the second one claimed to be your relative, and this power of Attorney stated that you are dead, they brought an account to replace your information in other to claim your fund of US$18.5 Million which is now lying DORMANT and UNCLAIMED, below is the new account they have submitted:

BANK.-WELLS FARGO BANK
420 Montgomery, San Francisco, CA 94104
ACCOUNT NO. 2115174754

Be informed that this power of attorney also stated that you suffered and died of High Blood Pressure. You are therefore given 24hrs to confirm the truth in this information, If you are still alive.

Hitherto, you must contact this office immediately for clarifications on this matter as we shall be available 24 hrs to attend to you and give you the necessary guidelines on how to ensure that your payment is wired to you immediately.

Remember that delay from your your side could be dangerous as we would not be held liable of wrong payment.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best Regards

Hon.George Osborne
Governor of the IMF for United Kingdom
International Monetary Funds Agents

Anti-fraud resources: