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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: "INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barristerjohnsmith02@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2017 19:09:23 +0300
Subject: DID YOU SIGN THE POWER OF ATTORNEY

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)
DEPT: WORLD DEBT RECONCILIATION AGENCIES.
ADVISE: YOUR OUTSTANDING PAYMENT
NOTIFICATION
 
 
 
 
 
 
A power of attorney was forwarded to our office this morning by two gentle
men, one of them is an American national and he is MR. DAVID DEANE by name
while the other person is MR. JACK MORGAN 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 $12.5 Million Usd which is now
lying DORMANT and UNCLAIMED, below is the new account they have submitted:
 
 
 
 
 
 
BANK.-HSBC CANADA
Vancouver, CANADA
ACCOUNT NO. 2984-0008-66
 
 
 
 
 
 
Be further informed that this power of attorney also stated that you
suffered and died of throat cancer. You are therefore given 24hrs to confirm
the truth in this information, If you are still alive, You are to contact us
back immediately, Because we work 24 hrs just to ensure that we monitor all
the activities going on in regards to the transfer of beneficiaries
inheritance and contract payment.
 
 
 
 
You are to reply to 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.
 
 
 
 
 
Just also be informed that any further delay from your side could be
dangerous, as we would not be held responsible of wrong payment.
 
 
 
Barrister. John Smith
Finance Department Director
International Monetary Funds Agents

Anti-fraud resources: