419 scam: "Dr.TONY CHICA" <mr.patrickdonatus@gmail.com> FROM: IMF FUND OFFICE

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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:
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- tonyc6811@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr.TONY CHICA" <mr.patrickdonatus@gmail.com>
Reply-To: tonyc6811@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 7 Jul 2022 03:12:11 -0700
Subject: FROM: IMF FUND OFFICE

FROM: IMF FUND OFFICE
BENIN REPUBLIC BRANCH:
OB/OP/1384 PLOT AKPAKPA,
COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC.
OURREF.CODE:BSEL/773/AWN/021/17

Re: Funds Recovery

The International Fund through the help of Interpol recovered your
funds which some criminals diverted. We found out that you have spent
so much money trying to get your funds.

Right now, the fund is deposited with IMF Vault Company in BENIN which
your presence is required. If you cannot make it to BENIN, you can
appoint a representative to be in BENIN and have this concluded. The
Vault Company is under IMF and the officer in charge (Dr.TONY CHICA
will assist you as regards to banking.

The IMF, based on report and information gathered is keen of getting
this concluded, so itâ€™s left to you to confirm your arrival in BENIN
or if you are appointing a representative. Seeing believes. Issues of
documents, stop order and these entire crazy schemes that made you
spent so much in the hands of criminals are over.

The Contact Details of the officer in charge:
Name: Dr.TONY CHICA
Email: (tonyc6811@gmail.com)

Regards,
Mr.Patrick Donatus
FROM IMF OFFICE

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam