419 scam: "UNCLAIMED FUNDS"<unclaimedfunds@frontiernet.net> UNCLAIMED FUNDS

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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million us dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- ",000,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "very 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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "cheques " (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.
- godwin.paymentofficer@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "UNCLAIMED FUNDS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <godwin.paymentofficer@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2012 08:07:24 -0000
Subject: UNCLAIMED FUNDS

Dear Beneficiary,

I am an official working with the Bank of Ghana and recently on my mission to the World Bank meeting in collaboration with the United Nations in the United Kingdom I came across a list which contains details of unclaimed funds and while going through the data I noticed an unsuccessful financial transaction attached to your name.

The objective of the meeting was to control the prevailing global financial and economic crisis, considering the numerous outstanding foreign payments owed to so many foreign contractors by some African countries like, Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, Cote D’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and a host of others.

It has been discovered that many debts owed to foreigners in Africa are due to past corrupt Government Officials who almost held the funds to themselves for their personal and selfish reasons and also some corrupt bank officials who have taken advantage of the funds in an attempt to swindle the funds which has led to so many incurred financial losses to the foreign beneficiaries of the funds in Africa.

Now The Bank of Ghana has been assigned the sponsorship of all these outstanding payments by the leadership of the World Bank with the support of the United Nations, through Standard Chartered Bank Ghana Ltd.

Due to the non availability of sufficient foreign currency in our treasury, considering the numerous outstanding foreign payments at our disposal now, the Bank of Ghana has delegated Standard Chartered Bank Ghana Ltd. to pay any foreigner owed by any bank in Africa the total sum of One Million US Dollars (US$1,000,000.00) only, as an initial payment compensation now, while the remaining balance payments shall be made in installments into your bank account at the appropriate intervals.

The World Bank and United Nations have successfully passed a mandate to the African Union to boost this exercise of clearing all foreign debts owed to foreigners and other individuals and organizations in Africa, who have not received their Contract payments/Lottery payments/Investment Deposits and Inheritance funds.

You should advise us how you want to receive your payment because we have three (3) methods of payment which are by (1) Direct Wire Transfer (2) Cheques or Bank Drafts and (3) ATM Cards?

(1) By a Direct Wire Transfer. You shall be requested to forward your current bank account co-ordinates to receive your funds.

(2) By issuing Cheques or Bank Drafts. You shall be required to forward your current mailing address and contact details.

(3) By ATM Cards: We will be issuing you a custom pin based ATM card which you will use to withdraw from any ATM machine any where in the world and the ATM card has to be renewed every 2 years. Also with the ATM card you will be able to transfer your funds to your local bank account.

To start processing the release of your US$1,000,000.00, you are advised to provide the following details as stated below:

a. Your full Names..
b. Your present Contact/Mailing Address:
c. Your current telephone number---Home/Office/Cell Phone Numbers:
d. Your Preferred mode of Payment---(Please chose one of the 3 options above)

NOTE. I will help you secure this payment into your bank account in your country without any stress or hitch if only you can keep to these instructions.

(1) You have to keep this information very confidential until you have received the funds into your bank account and I will assist you in this transaction with the right information.

(2) You will be willing to compensate me greatly after you have received the funds and the US$1,000,000.00 is successfully credited into your bank account.

(3) That you will cease every further communication with anybody regarding this transaction to avoid complications as there might be attempts for some people to distract your attention from the truth directly or indirectly because from my findings you have dealt with many people unsuccessfully and negatively in the past about receiving your funds and you never received anything from them after spending lots of money.

Finally, I am willing to help you secure this US$1,000,000.00 with the above conditions and I can not be a party to take what does not belong to me and
I will be willing to assist you in any way I can to make sure the fund is transferred to your bank account within the next few days.

Yours sincerely,

Please contact Mr. Godwin at godwin.paymentofficer@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam