419 scam: "Mr. James Amsterdam"<info@sedanseeds.com> Are You Dead Or Alive??? 24/3/2019

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "money gram" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "you are required to pay " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "processing fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- imfdepartmentunit101@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- amsterdam (managing director imf) e-mail: (imfdepartmentunit101@gmail.com) telephone number:(+229) 6116 6000 attention: dear (Gmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. James Amsterdam" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <imfdepartmentunit01@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 24 Mar 2019 02:53:31 -0700
Subject: Are You Dead Or Alive??? 24/3/2019

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF) OF BENIN REPUBLIC Address: Lot B14 PATTE D'OIE, BP 2163, Cotonou Officer In Charge Of Foreign Inheritance Payment File Registration No: 78042/LG 20431/29-IMF-NIG Mr. James Amsterdam (Managing Director IMF) E-mail: (imfdepartmentunit101@gmail.com) Telephone Number:(+229) 6116 6000 Attention: Dear Beneficiary, A power of attorney was forwarded to our office this morning by this woman, she is an American national and Her name is Mrs. Janet R. Stricklin, This woman claimed to be your representative and this power of attorney stated that you are dead and she brought an account to replace your information in order to claim your inheritance fund worth of $8,500.000.00 (Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) which is now lying in a dormant account UNCLAIMED, below is the information she have submitted: Full Name: Mrs. Janet R. Stricklin Full Address: 3916 Park Antonio, Calabasas, CA 91302 USA Telephone Number: 714-421-4900 Occupation: Retired Accountant Marital Status: Married, 71 Years Bank Account: City Bank Account Number: 472 380 2115. Routing: 122006743 Be further informed that this power of attorney stated that you suffered and died of a deadly disease but before you past away, she said you issued this power of attorney in her favor. So we are given you 24 hours to confirm the truth in this information, If you are still alive, then you are to contact us back immediately, Because we are working 24 hours just to ensure that we monitor all the activities going on in regards to transfer beneficiaries inheritance and contract payment. You are to call this office once for clarifications on this matter as we shall be available 24 hours to speak with you and give you the necessary guidelines on how to ensure that your payment is wired to you possession and we also want to remind you that any further delay from your side could be dangerous, as we will not be held responsible for any wrong payment. So kindly contact us as matter of urgency if you are (REALLY ALIVE) as we have her identification and residence she provided for this payment to be wired to her account for us to get her arrested. Note that the only fee you are required to pay is the IMF Payment Release Bond Administrative Charge of $195.00 (One Hundred And Ninety-Five Dollars). Kindly re-confirm your personal information to enable cross-check with the data's we have in our central computer if it's correct or not. (1) Full Name:...................... (2) Country/State/ City Name:.................... (3) Delivery Address:.................. (4) Occupation:.............................. (5) Sex:................................ (6) Age:............................ (7) Telephone Number:....................... (8) A Cope of Your Passport/ Drivers Licenses:............... As soon as you provide the information above, we will direct you on how to send the file endorsement processing fee of $195.00 (One Hundred And Ninety-Five Dollars) via western union or money gram. Best Regards. Mr. James Amsterdam (Managing Director IMF) Senior Representative In Cotonou- Benin Republic E-mail: (imfdepartmentunit01@gmail.com) Telephone Number: (+229) 6116 6000

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