International Monetary Fund, Washington DC

IMF Compensation Scam

Scammers take what are often legal compensation schemes and use them pretending to be that authority or they invent a completely new compensation scheme and pretend to be that authority. Let's state at the outset the IMF (The International Monetary Fund) does not seek out persons due compensation and it certainly does not do it from free e-mail provider email accounts.

The only people who may offer compensation within the UK for money lost through scams are financial institutions such as Banks and you have to apply for the compensation, they do not contact you offering compensation. Let's see how the "International Monetary Fund" reaches out to you with a specific amount of compensation not knowing how much you may have lost or even if you have been scammed in the past.

E-Mail received:

Date: 17/12/2024, 11:49

From: Mrs. Theresa Cater 1040050238@pracharath.ac.th

To: undisclosed recipients

Bcc: info2000247@gmail.com

Subject: ***SPAM*** FINAL NOTICE FOR YOUR APPROVED ENTITLEMENT FUND PAYMENT.

FINAL NOTICE FOR YOUR APPROVED ENTITLEMENT FUND PAYMENT.

Good day to you,

This letter is from the World Fund Discovery Management and Payment Bureau under the service of International Monetary Fund (I.M.F), after series of meetings held by the World leading organizations, the US government, IMF, Work Bank, UN Human Rights Committee, and the European Union with some officials of the Economic Communities of West African States (ECOWAS) regarding the petitions and complaints received from different parts of the world against scam activities going on around African countries, like Nigeria, Benin Republic, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Burkina-Faso, Senegal, South Africa, and other continents of the world such as European countries, Asian countries (India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and others) Middle East countries, South American countries, and North America (USA, Mexico and Canada) etc.

This body was set up to investigate, discover, and recover all funds being owed to governments, companies, or individuals all over the world through contract payments, compensation payments, inheritance, lottery winning, grants, donations, or award prizes, and then disburse the funds to the right beneficiaries.

It will interest you to know that we have found an unpaid/unclaimed sum of money in your favor, and a mandate has been given to us, the World Fund Discovery Management and Payment Bureau/IMF, to ensure that the fund is released to you without further delays. We are glad to inform you that you are entitled to receive the sum of $25, 500,000.00 Million United States dollars from the funds recovered from unclaimed funds, confiscated properties, here is your new payment reference file no. WOC/IMF2024/25M for the claim of your overdue funds.

You are required to select the most suitable method for receiving your funds from the available options. You have the following options for receiving your funds: Diplomatic Arrangement by Cash Delivery, International Certified Bank Check, ATM Card, Bank Direct Transfer, or Online Banking for easy fund transfers.

Importantly, payment centers have been established worldwide to facilitate easy and secure transactions. We have a payment center in Europe, the United States, and Asia; therefore, you are required to indicate your preferred payment center to enable us to coordinate and schedule your fund release. The main purpose of this new payment system is to ensure consistency and transparency.

Please provide the information listed below

Name:
Home Address:
Any valid form of identification:
Indicate your preferred Payment Center:

The only monetary obligation you have to fulfill for the claim of your long-awaited fund is $450.00 for acquiring a Payment Authorization Certificate from the Supreme Court, ensuring the authenticity of the fund release process. We kindly request that you quote your payment reference number WOC/IMF2024/25M as the subject when contacting the payment officer.

NOTE: We are going to complete the payment of your overdue fund with 72 hours via your preferred payment option, once you provide us with your personal information as listed above, and the required fee for obtaining Payment Authorization Certificate from the Supreme Court and then state your preferred payment option from the available options preferred to you.

Please reach out to our payment officer, using the contact information provided below for further assistance.

Contact Person: Mr. David Vall
Email: infoinfo20024@gmail.com
Position: Finance Department Director

Thank you for your understanding and kind cooperation.

Best regards,
Mrs. Theresa Cater,
Fund Discovery Management.

Notes: Let's look at the red flags... email received from an academic domain in Thailand, I would have expected the World Fund Discovery Management and Payment Bureau to be based in New York or possibly Zurich, Switzerland. Thailand does not fit as being the place such a presigeous organisation was based. The e-mail is sent to many recipients and there is a confusion whether you should reply to info2000247@gmail.com or the contact e-mail address at the end of the e-mail infoinfo20024@gmail.com, neither of these free e-mail addresses being indicative of the IMF.

The amount of compensation being offered to anyone who replies is US$25.5 million. You do however have to pay out in advance (hence the advance fee fraud) US$450 "for acquiring a Payment Authorization Certificate from the Supreme Court, ensuring authenticity of the fund release process". I am not sure if the scammers just intend to take just the US$450 or whether if the US$450 is paid then further fees will be invented that have to be paid.

Other procedures are mentioned in the e-mail these include "Diplomatic Arrangement by Cash Delivery" (Diplomats do not deliver cash!), choice of payment centers. I am sure wherever you might specify they will have a nearby payment center. I am also sure whether you quote the "payment reference number WOC/IMF2024/25M as the subject when contacting the payment officer" or not the scam will proceed.

Recommendation:

The e-mail was automatically marked as spam, just delete. Sad to say there will be some people somewhere who will fall for Mrs Theresa Cater/Mr David Vall's scam

And another IMF scam email received

Date: 25/09/2025, 11:49

From: afvcf@imf.co.uk

To: Recipients afvcf@imf.co.uk

Reply to: nigelclarke937@gmail.com

Subject: ***SPAM*** ACCESS YOUR FRAUD VICTIM COMPENSATION FUND

OFFICE OF INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

700 19th St NW Washington,

DC 20431, United States

Call +1 (202) 623-7000

I am NIGEL CLARKE the Deputy Managing Director (INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND), we have been informed this day by concern authority to have your process completed otherwise, the fund will be declared unserviceable by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Kindly note that this fund was generated by the U.S Government due to the loss of funds that the innocent beneficiaries have been going through...

We hereby inform you that the Scotland Yard Police, Interpol, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) United State of America, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of Nigeria and all the African Crime fighters’ leaders have come together to stop scam/Internet fraud in Nigeria and all-round Africa. We have Recovered over US$5.6 Billion United State Dollars from the people we have behind bars, which was tagged Compensation Funds.

Your email was listed which you are awarded the sum of Five Million five hundred thousand United State Dollars [$5,500, 000.00] as a Victim by the United Nations in collaboration with the purpose of this fund is to help the victims recover their funds and to assist eradicate unemployment in the region.

We are instructed to pay each beneficiary Five Million five hundred thousand United State Dollars [$5,500, 000.00] in cash through means of Courier Service Company, with all the complete documents of the Funds, due to the fraudulent activities, that is the reason we settled to pay in cash through means of courier.

Therefore, your total fund should be five million five hundred thousand united state dollars ($5.500,000.00) but we have map out three thousand united state dollars ($3,000) for taxes and other documents I want you to bear it in mind that your total fund is now five million four hundred and ninety-seven thousand united state dollars ($5.497,000.00).

We apologize if you find this mail in your spam, we are experiencing network problem which we have contacted the headquarters about it, and they are working on it, sorry for the inconvenience it might have caused you. For immediate response send the below details to this Email: nigelclarke937@gmail.com

Full Name: ………………………………………………….

Address: ……………………………………………………

Phone Number: …………………………………….

Occupation: ……………………………………………

Amount lost: …………………………………….

NIGEL C. CLARKE

Deputy Managing Director

(I.M.F)

Notes: The sender email is from imf.co.uk, this domain has been in existence many years but similarly email addresses using this domain have been used for IMF scams. The text is preposterous, the IMF do not send emails like this, chase people wanting to give them money. The Reply address is a typical anonymous gmail address. Did google think when they created the googlemail or gmail email service that it would be so popular with scammers?

There is a Nigel Clarke who is Deputy Managing Director at the IMF, his details are available to the public including scammers on the wikipedia website.

Recommendation:

The e-mail was automatically marked as spam, just delete. Sad to say there will be some people somewhere who will fall for Nigel Clarke's scam

I decided to play along with Nigel Clarke so sent fictitious name, address, telephone number, occupation and amount lost of course from an email address I reserve for such conversations.

I received the following email:

Date: 30/09/2025 at 8:02 PM

From: Nigel Clarke nigelclarke937@gmail.com

To: [Name and Email address redacted]

Subject: DELIVERY CONFIRMATION

We are done with your clearance process and your funds valued the sum of Five Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars ($5, 500, 000.00) has been packaged in a Consignment Box, We have received a letter from the bank in charged that your funds box has been deposited with the UN Courier Company to delivered it to your home address on Thursday October 2nd 2025 with the help of UN Diplomat Staff (Gian Martins).

Please take note of this important notice, Your Funds were registered with the UN Courier Service as (Family treasure/Gift items) for security reasons, so please for the safety of this very transaction do not disclose the real content which is your cash to the diplomat agent.

Below are the shipment details take note of them

Total Weight of the Box = 6.5KG (121 ilb)
Airway Bill No. = 0278620910
Shipment: 083 9820917

Registration Number: 319011025

Box Number: 05112521

Note: The luggage has been deposited and sealed under UN Courier Company for delivery and to actualize the delivery, You are the only person who can open it after it was sealed, Be informed that I used my pocket money to pay the sum of $650.00 for the stamp duty fee and company delivery fees, so please remember to send it back to me immediately you received your consignment package.

Furthermore, be informed that delivery will be made to your address; please bear in mind that your valid ID CARD must be presented to the diplomat (Gian Martins) on his arrival before release will be done to you.

To ensure safety and to avoid delivery to a wrong person or wrong address, kindly reconfirm your home address now with your direct phone number. your consignment box is very important that you receive it from the diplomat delivery agent.

The scan copy of the approval document will be sent to you after the authorization process is completed.

So enter totally fictitious entities and personnel "UN Courier Company", "UN Diplomat staff working with UN Courier Company", "UN Courier Service", "Diplomat agent", "Diplomat Delivery Agent"... none of these exist. Diplomatic Couriers work between embassies and home countries and between UN establishments and individual missions BUT such couriers do not deliver consignment boxes to private individuals.

I re-confirm my address and phone number. This will be to ensure that I am still interested.

I receive the following email, introducing the Diplomat Agent:

Date: 2/10/2025 at 5:55 PM

From: Gian Martins martins.gian@aol.com

To: [Name and Email address redacted]

Subject: BOX ARRIVAL

Greetings, my name is Gian Martins, a courier diplomat from UN DIPLOMATIC SERVICE. There is a diplomatic baggage with Airway Bills No.= 0278620910 and shipment #:083 9820917 respectively containing Family Treasure / gift items I accompanied with my diplomatic immunity to be delivered to you; I have been trying on reaching out by email submitted to let you know that I have arrived safely in our Headquarters here in UNITED KINGDOM .

for immediate delivery of your package to your provided home address [Fictitious Scottish address redacted] as given to me from our Office.

The Inspection manager have verified and find out that the sender, Mr. Nigel did not send the paperwork and key of your consignment box to you and as the rule of this UN DIPLOMATIC SERVICE, stands that you must have the paperwork and key before my arrival, because you must sign out the necessary release order before I will release the consignment box to you, kindly contact the sender Mr. Nigel

For more info please contact. +1 (813) 694 2160

The modality of our operation stands that you must have the security key paperwork to sign the attestation booklet that you receive the consignment with its completion and in good condition. So quickly contact the sender and let me know when you are with the security key and paperwork as to affect the delivery immediately, your box is now in Edinburgh Airport. and will be placed in the security dept safe room until you have your security key and paperwork.

THANK YOU AND IT IS OUR DUTY TO TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOUR BOX TILL THE FINAL DESTINATION.

Attached to this mail is my official working I.D

GIAN MARTINS
UN Diplomatic Agent

So apparently Gian Martins is in the UN headquarters in the UNITED KINGDOM (I was not aware we had such headquarters), the box is at Edinburgh airport and yet I am given a US telephone number to contact for further details. I did do a reverse search for the telephone number and it indicated the number was registered to a Chandra Denis Valdez in Florida.

I am asked to contact Mr Nigel (note African way of reversing family name and given name) so I forward email and ask him to do what needs to be done. Very likely Mr Nigel (Nigel Clarke) and Gian Martins could be the same person using different email addresses. I very much doubt that they are in the UK.

Further email received:

Date: 3/10/2025 at 10:42 AM

From: Nigel Clarke nigelclarke937@gmail.com

To: [Name and Email address redacted]

Subject: Re: Fw: BOX ARRIVAL

I have just gotten your email, And I will be reaching out to the UN Office regarding the relevant documents and the security key. I will get back to you with feedback as soon as possible.

Just a holding email to keep you on the hook, the request for money must be coming soon.

I received the following email:

Date: 3/10/2025 at 4:36 PM

From: Nigel Clarke nigelclarke937@gmail.com

To: [Name and Email address redacted]

Subject: SENDING OF YOUR SECURITY KEY AND PAPERWORK

I have just checked with the overnight speed courier Service company and they said that to send your necessary papers and the security key expressly to your home address will cost the sum of £175.00 and the problem is that I don’t have extra money to send your security key and the documents, because, I assisted to get the stamp duty, and the delivery fee. That was the only money in my hand, I was hoping that as soon as you receive your package, you will send it back with anything you wish to give me.

The UN International security affair department did not feel free to give Mr. GIAN MARTINS , the diplomat agent your security consignment key together with your consignment box to avoid him opening the luggage to find out that it contains cash, which he may divert the package for his personal interest.

I was hoping to send the key separately to you through the overnight speed courier Service from my pocket. But after taking care of the stamp duty fee, clearance fee, and insurance fee. There was no extra money to take care of the sending fee of your security key and paperwork separately to you.

Since the diplomat agent with your luggage is already in your country, kindly send the £175.00 so that I will rush to the overnight speed courier Service Company to send you the key and paperwork immediately to enable the diplomat agent complete the delivery to your home address.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

I like the portion of the email where the "UN International security affair department" (an illustrious fictitious body) do not trust Gian Martins that he wont "divert the package for himself" ie steal the money! We are being asked for £175 but they have not said how it should be paid.

I reply confirming I will repay his stamp duty and delivery fee after receipt of the consignment box, there is more chance of pigs flying than that occurring! I ask how the paperwork and key fee should be paid.

I received the following email:

Date: 4/10/2025 at 4:36 PM

From: Nigel Clarke nigelclarke937@gmail.com

To: [Name and Email address redacted]

Subject: SENDING OF YOUR SECURITY KEY AND PAPERWORK

Below is the bank details to make the payment of the £175.00

Santander Bank Uk

Name: PAUL Williams

Sort code: 09-01-30

Account number: XXXXX571

Kindly Provide me with the payment receipt immediately you make the payment.

No explanation given as to who Paul Williams is but he appears to have a valid current UK bank account. Perhaps he is a "money mule" passing payments onto the scammers for a "cut" of the payment?

I respond that I would be visiting my local bank the following day and make the transfer then, though of course though I might visit my branch I wont be making any transfer.

There now follow a series of emails from the scammers waiting patiently for the money, being frustrated not receiving it, trying to entice me with a fake IMF document with multiple typos in it, a final email demanding that I make payment. I choose to respond to that.

Date: 6/10/2025 at 1:19 PM

From: Nigel Clarke nigelclarke937@gmail.com

To: [Name and Email address redacted]

Subject: SENDING OF YOUR SECURITY KEY AND PAPERWORK

I will be waiting patiently for the transfer receipt

Date: 7/10/2025 at 2:49 PM

From: Nigel Clarke nigelclarke937@gmail.com

To: [Name and Email address redacted]

Subject: SENDING OF YOUR SECURITY KEY AND PAPERWORK

Kindly let me know if you’re planning on keeping me silent.

Date: 7/10/2025 at 7:11 PM

From: Nigel Clarke nigelclarke937@gmail.com

To: [Name and Email address redacted]

Subject: Urgently!!!

Date: 7/10/2025 at 9:47 PM

From: Nigel Clarke nigelclarke937@gmail.com

To: [Name and Email address redacted]

Subject: Re: ACCESS YOUR FRAUD VICTIM COMPENSATION FUND

Date: 8/10/2025 at 11:15 AM

From: Nigel Clarke nigelclarke937@gmail.com

To: [Name and Email address redacted]

Subject: Final Request for Payment to Secure Your Delivery

Dear Mr. Hartigan,

This will be my final email regarding your outstanding payment.

To ensure your delivery is not jeopardized, I strongly advise you to remit the payment today.

Please treat this matter with the utmost urgency.

I have to admit I wasn't convinced by the IMF document sent to me! At this point I reply saying I cannot find the £175 to make the payment.

I received the following email:

Date: 8/10/2025 at 2:48 PM

From: Nigel Clarke nigelclarke937@gmail.com

To: [Name and Email address redacted]

Subject: Re: Final Request for Payment to Secure Your Delivery

I understand your situation at the moment, kindly let me know how much you can get then I will see what I can do.

So how much should I suggest... £2.50?

Further Reading:

UN Compensation Scam

Diplomatic Consignment Delivery Scams

Michael Fowler

Articles > IMF Compensation Scam

IMF Compensation Scam

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