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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: "IMF OFFICE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <transfermonitoringdept.msmiths@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2017 19:10:24 -0400
Subject: Your Long Overdue Payment....?

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)
DEPT: WORLD DEBT RECONCILIATION AGENCIES.
ADVISE: YOUR OUTSTANDING PAYMENT NOTIFICATION

Attn: Beneficiarry,

Your Long Overdue Payment.

I saw your email (in the Central Computer among the list of unpaid contractors, inheritance next of kin and lotto beneficiaries that was originated from Americans, Asia Plus Middle east, Europe ) among the list of individuals and companies that your unpaid fund has been located to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York,United State Of America.

Your email appeared among the beneficiaries,who will receive their Long Overdue Payment which has been approved already for months. You are requested to get back to me for more direction and instruction on how to receive your Long Overdue Payment. However, we received an email from one Mr.Niven Jay,who told us that he is your next of kin and that you died in a car accident last week. He has also submitted his account for us to transfer the fund to him, we want to hear from you before we can make the transfer to confirm if you are really dead or not? Please if you are still alive,kindly furnish us with below information:

1.Your Full Name........
2.Address...............
3.Country.................
4.Age....................
5.Occupation................
6.Telephone Number...........
7.Next Of Kin..................

Once again,I apologize to you on behalf of IMF (International Monetary Fund) for failure to pay your funds in time, which according to records in the system had been long overdue Funds.

We await for your urgent response if you are still alive.

Yours Sincerely
Mrs.Helen K. Whang
Office Of The IMF New York,
United State Of America.

Anti-fraud resources: