joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: "IMF" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <helpdesk.dept@qq.com>
Date: Fri, 20 May 2016 13:38:18 +0800
Subject: Re: Fund Reimbursement

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)
DEPT: WORLD DEBT RECONCILIATION AGENCIES.
ADVISE: WE FIGHT AGAINST FRAUD, FUNDS DELAY & IMPERSONATION.
HEAD OFFICE NO: 1900 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest,
Washington, DC 20431, United States
 
A power of attorney was forwarded to our office this day Saturday, 11 April 2016 by two gentle men, one of them is an American national and his MR.EDWARD SICILIANO by name while the other person is MR.JAIME IGNACIO MILLAN  by name a CANADIAN national.
 
This gentlemen claimed to be your representative, 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 $10.5 Million Dollars which is now lying DORMANT and UNCLAIMED at the Eh National Bank, below is the new account they have submitted:
 
BANK NAME: STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
BANK ADDRESS: 1095 AVENUE OF THEAMERICA NEW YORK CITY, NY 10036
ACCOUNT #: 00200000634 Numero de ABA
SWIFT-CODE: 026002561
 
Be further informed that this power of attorney also stated that you suffered and died of throat cancer. therefore you are advise and given 48 hours to confirm the truth in this information, If you are still alive, You are to contact us back immediately because we work 24 hours  just to ensure that we monitor all the activities going on in regards to the transfer of inheritance beneficiaries fund/contract payment.
 
You are to reply to this office immediately for clarifications on this matter as we shall be available 24 hours  to attend to you and give you the necessary guidelines and direction on how to ensure that your pending inheritance payment is wired to you immediately.
 
So therefore, we sincerely appeal with you to please find a reason to respond to this email with detailed information, as we would not be held responsible of wrong payment or face legal action in future in regard to your fund documentation.
 
For Further Inquiries, please feel free to contact the direct email to the Financial Counsellor Director Desk ‘Mr. Pollard Brewer; helpdesk.dept@qq.com
 
Respectfully
(IMF) International Monetary Fund

Anti-fraud resources: