419 scam: Federal Internal Revenue Service <test@test.com> Good Day,

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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:
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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.
- infoimf@mail.ee (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Federal Internal Revenue Service <test@test.com>
Reply-To: <infoimf@mail.ee>
Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2023 22:38:12 +0300
Subject: Good Day,

Internal Revenue Service {IRS} Department,
IRS Headquarters. 1111 Constitution Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20224, United States.
Phone:(601)680-1880
Website:www.irs.gov.
C/O Charles P. Rettig.
the 49th Commissioner of IRS.
E-mail: infoimf@mail.ee
In Affiliation with United Nations, Africa Union
and Economic communities of west African states (ECOWAS).

Your long over due fund is $15.8 million United states dollar, contact us now for the transfer of the fund to your account and the delivery of your ATM card to your residential address.You should reconfirm your name,telephone number and
your address.

Chairperson/Director IRS,
the 49th Commissioner of the IRS
Federal Internal Revenue Service {IRS} Department
(601)680-1880
E-mail: infoimf@mail.ee

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam