419 scam: "Mr. Ban Ki - Moon"<un@unitednation.org> CONGRATULATIONS!

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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:

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:
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
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.
- u_nationaudit@sify.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Ban Ki - Moon" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <u_nationaudit@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 05:32:36 -0700
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!

INTERNATIONAL FUNDS TRANSFER / AUDIT UNIT)
UNITED NATIONS
(WORLD BANK ASSISTED PROGRAMME)
DIRECTORATE OF INTERNATIONAL
PAYMENT AND TRANSFERS.
870 UNITED NATIONS PLAZA 20-ANEW YORK NY 10017
WIRE TRANSFER/AUDIT UNIT
Our Ref: WB/NF/UN/XX028

ATTN:BENEFICIARY,

WE WRITE TO INFORM YOU THAT WE HAVE BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE WORLD BANK TO INVESTIGATE THE UNNECESSARY DELAY OF YOUR OUTSTANDING INHERITANCE/CONTRACT PAYMENT. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN EMPOWERED TO RECOMMEND AND APPROVE YOUR CONTRACT FUND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. IN THE COURSE OF OUR INVESTIGATION, WE DISCOVERED WITH DISMAY THAT YOUR PAYMENT HAS BEEN UNNECESSARILY DELAYED BY SOME CORRUPT OFFICIALS OF THE BANK AND OFFICIALS OF THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT WHO HAD THE INTENSION OF DIVERTING THE BENEFICIARIES' FUNDS INTO THEIR PRIVATE ACCOUNTS.

TO FORESTALL THIS, SECURITY FOR YOUR FUNDS HAS BEEN ORGANIZED AND FOR THE SAFETY OF YOUR FUNDS WE HAVE BEEN SPECIFICALLY ADVISED TO RELEASE THIS PAYMENT TO YOU EITHER BY A TELEGRAPHIC TRANSFER INTO YOUR DESIGNATED ACCOUNT, BY A CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT OR THROUGH SPECIAL CASH DELIVERY. WE HAVE ALSO AGREED WITH THE PRESIDENCY THAT WE WILL MAKE THIS PAYMENT VIA THE UNITED NATIONS ACCREDITED BANK TO AVOID THE HOPELESS SITUATION CREATED BY THE OFFICIALS OF THE PREVIOUS BANK.

WE CANNOT ISSUE THESE DOCUMENTS TO YOU NOW BECAUSE WE HAVE A PROBLEM HERE, EVER SINCE YOUR NAME WAS PUBLISHED IN OUR OFFICIAL GAZETTE AS ONE OF THE BENEFICIARY/CONTRACTORS TO BE PAID VIA OUR PROGRAMME, WE HAVE HAD AT LEAST FOUR (4) PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME HERE WITH LETTERS PURPORTEDLY WRITTEN BY YOU FOR A CHANGE IN THE RECEIVING BANKING PARTICULARS. 2 DAYS AGO MR... BALIM AUDU PRESENTED THE UNDERSTATED ACCOUNT DETAILS FOR THE TRANSFER OF THIS FUNDS. UNION BANK SWITZERLAND (UBS AG) 2407 SAASTVEN BMNCH ZURICH SWITZERLAND A/C NO. 470-2598-440

WE ARE HAPPY TO INFORM YOU THAT BASED ON OUR RECOMMENDATION YOUR OUTSTANDING INHERITANCE/CONTRACT FUNDS HAS BEEN CREDITED IN YOUR FAVOR IN OUR ACCREDITED BANK'S ESCROW ACCOUNT. YOU ARE HEREBY ADVISED TO CONTACT REV. (DR). JAMES HANSON AT THE REGIONAL/AUDIT UNIT OF THE UNITED NATIONS LIAISON OFFICE ABUJA NIGERIA VIA E-MAIL ON: u_nationaudit@sify.com TO INDICATE YOUR PREFERRED MODE OF PAYMENT.

YOU ARE ADVISED TO FURNISH REV (DR). JAMES HANSON WITH THE BELOW INFORMATION:

1) YOUR FULL NAME.
(2) PHONE, FAX AND MOBILE #.
(3) COMPANYS NAME, POSITION AND ADDRESS.
(4) PROFESSION, AGE AND MARITAL STATUS.
(5) EQUITY LINE OF CREDIT ACCOUNT (YES OR NO)
(6) COPY OF INT'L PASSPORT OR ANY SCANNED IDENTITY TO PROVE YOU.

WE EXPECT YOUR URGENT RESPONSE TO THIS EMAIL TO ENABLE US MONITOR THIS PAYMENT EFFECTIVELY.

CONGRATULATIONS!

MR. BAN KI-MOON,
SECRETARY.UNITED NATIONS,
NEW YORK.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam