Fraudulent Scam Emails Using the Name of the IMF
We would like to bring to the notice of the general public that several variants of financial scam letters purporting to be sanctioned by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or authored by high ranking IMF officials are currently in circulation, and may appear on official letterhead containing the IMF logo. The scam letters instruct potential victims to contact the IMF for issuance of a “Certificate of International Capital Transfer” or other forms of approval, to enable them receives large sums of monies as beneficiaries. The contact e-mail information is always BOGUS and unsuspecting individuals are then requested to send their personal banking details which the scammers utilize for their fraudulent activities.
Contrary to what is stated in these scam e-mails, letters, or phone conversations, the IMF does NOT authorize, verify, monitor, or assist in contract or inheritance payments between third parties and/or Governments, nor does it endorse the activities of any bank, financial institution, or other public or private agency. For purposes of clarification, the IMF is an inter-governmental organization whose transactions and operations are carried out directly with its member countries.
If you have already received such e-mails, you are advised to terminate all further contacts with the scammers, and, in the event that you have sent them funds, contact your local law enforcement agency immediately. If you are resident in the United States, you can also file a complaint with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), through the following website:
http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx.
Additional general information on scam e-mails may be found at the following websites:
1) http://www.lookstoogoodtobetrue.com/
2) http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/js1130.htm
