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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: "YOUR INHERITANCE FUNDS RELEASE." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <foreign.payments@onet.eu>
Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2019 13:05:25 -0800
Subject: YOUR INHERITANCE FUNDS RELEASE

TESTInternational Monenitary Fund (IMF)
DATE.: 28/01/2019.

YOUR INHERITANCE FUNDS RELEASE.

This intervention is as result of numerous application and attempt by some group of people here and in other parts of the world to abuse the integrity and reputation of the Banks. However, in order to protect its image I have been mandated to inform you that we are in receipt of mandate to take over payment of all debts originating from African Continent which include your inheritance funds.

Furthermore, be informed that any commercial bank in the Country including other offshore financial institutions which claim to have the mandate of any Apex Banks or bank in Africa, Europe and America to make payments to beneficiaries are not authorized to do so without clearance from this office. If you are still dealing with this group of people stop further communication and revert to International Monenitary Fund (IMF) for your own interest.

To accomplish the above we have started updating files/applications for the release/delivery of beneficiaries funds. This office is working on the instruction from the Presidents of Federated Africa Union Banks, and National Committee for Amalgamated European Central Banks through this office to pay all beneficiaries their debts.

We however, sympathized with you for the delay to locate the proper institution entrusted with mandate of carrying out your overdue payments. To serve you well and prompt. Contact Dr. Idrissa Thiam, at the Internatinal Monenitary Fund Office E-mail:- foreign.payments@onet.eu
Your full names, address and telephone numbers including your cell phone and Your bank details.

THE METHOD OF PAYMENT IS AS FOLLOWS:-

Bank to bank funds transfer, Automated Teller Machine) ATM-debit-card and International Irrevocable Bank Draft. Indicate the method you want to have your fund paid to you. Finally, upon confirmation of your readiness to receive your funds, we shall immediately start processing necessary documents towards prompt payment of your funds to you.

Thanking you for the anticipated cooperation.

Yours faithfully,

Mansfield R. Knorr
International Monenitary Fund (IMF)
Industriestrasse 47
6300 Zug, Switzerland
REF.: IMF/SCMV-86769

Anti-fraud resources: