419 scam: BERNARD LAUWERS IMF DIRECTOR 601 <bernardlauwerse@gmail.com> RE

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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. )
- "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)
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.europeaninvestmentbankuk@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: BERNARD LAUWERS IMF DIRECTOR 601 <bernardlauwerse@gmail.com>
Reply-To: www.europeaninvestmentbankuk@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2023 10:18:39 +0000
Subject: RE

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

Attention email owner.

I sent this letter to you a few weeks ago, but I did not hear from you, I'm
not sure if you got it, and that is why I sent it again, Firstly, I am Mr.
Bernard Lauwers, Director of the international monetary fund (IMF) finance
department and It may interest you to know that you are among those whose
pending payment has been approved by the INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)
in conjunction with the WORLD BANK and MINISTRY OF FINANCE AMERICA. 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 European
Investment union bank in 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)(www.europeaninvestmentbankuk@gmail.com) is 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 Dr. Wilson Taylor.

Contact EIB payment bank through these details below:
Bank email address: (www.europeaninvestmentbankuk@gmail.com)
Bank manager name is Dr. Wilson Taylor
Telephone and WhatsApp: +44 7833438428

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 had been long overdue.

Thanks for your kind understanding and I wish you good luck.

Yours Sincerely,
Mr. Bernard Lauwers.
Finance Director. International Monetary Fund.
Chairperson/Director IMF,
Coordinator, International Settlement Unit

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam