419 scam: Bernard Lauwers <financedepartmentdirector.dof@gmail.com> PAYMENT APPROVED

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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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "certificate 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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "hundred thousand united state dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "keep it confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447833438428
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.
- www.europeaninvestmentbank.info@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Bernard Lauwers <financedepartmentdirector.dof@gmail.com>
Reply-To: www.europeaninvestmentbank.info@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2023 04:21:48 -0700
Subject: PAYMENT APPROVED

International Monetary Fund
IMF Headquarters. 700 19th Street, Washington, D.C. 20431
TEL/FAX: +1-989-342-8137
Website:www.imf.org.
C/O Bernard Lauwers

ATTENTION EMAIL OWNER
This is to let you know that You are among those whose pending payment has
been approved by the INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF) in conjunction with
the WORLD BANK. The release of your fund has been delayed either as a
result of your dealing with unauthorized individuals or unawareness of your
current fund and its value. You are advised to stop further communication
with anybody or institution regarding the payment.
Note that these funds constitute unpaid Insurance, Pension, Contract sums,
Inheritance/next of kin and Lottery beneficiaries that originated from
Europe, Asia Plus Middle East, America and Africa. Be notified then You are
among the list of individuals and companies whose unpaid funds have been
approved for payment under the supervision of the International Monetary
Fund Headquarters here in Washington, DC USA. I also want to use this
medium to inform you that your total fund has been deposited in the
European Investment union bank in the United Kingdom where you can receive
your fund in peace.
We request that you should contact the approval payment bank within 48
hours of receiving this notification. The amount deposited on your behalf
at the (EIB) is Two Million Five Hundred Thousand United state dollars
(2.500,000.00 USD), keep it confidential for security reasons and to avoid
double claim, all necessary information about your fund will be provided to
you by the bank manager. Contact the bank manager through the provided
email address below:

Email address: www.europeaninvestmentbank.info@gmail.com
Bank manager name is Dr. Wilson Taylor
Telephone OR WhatsApp: +44 7833438428
Website: www.eib.org
Director: Foreign Operations/Remittances

On contacting the European investment union bank, please confirm your full
name to the bank to allow the bank confirming that you are the rightful
owner of the unclaimed fund deposited by an IMF official.
Note: at the bank the only payment needed to claim your fund is IMF
ownership clearance certificate fee, this certificate is an authorization
which permits you to receive the above sum in your appointed bank account
without any further delay or additional cost.
Once again, we apologize to you on behalf Of IMF (International Monetary
Fund) for the delays in paying your funds, which according to records in
the system has been long overdue.
Thanks for your kind understanding and I wish you good luck

Yours Sincerely,
Mr Bernard Lauwers
Director of the Finance Department
(IMF) Official

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam