419 scam: "Unesco Organization" <unaward@unesco.org> Congratulations (winner no 4)

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- "from: the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand 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)
This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
1. They don't notify winners by email.
2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2348038807910 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- ubn_plc@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Unesco Organization" <unaward@unesco.org>
Reply-To: ubn_plc@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2010 21:56:54 +0800 (MYT)
Subject: Congratulations (winner no 4)

FROM: THE DESK OF THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL
MR.KOICHIRO MATSUURA (UNESCO ORGANIZATION).
PRIZE AWARD DEPT.

CONGRATULATION!!!

BATCH NUMBER: HQG/09/KDA-43658
REFERENCE NUMBER: 2009234522
PIN: 11987

Attn! winner.
Re: Award notification, final notice!

We are pleased to inform you, that as a result of our
recent award drawing held in this month of April 2010.

Your e-mail address attached to winning number:
PPF/443/SDP with serial number:110 drew lucky
numbers: 12. which consequently won in the 5th category.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay of
(NINE HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS) in cash credited
to file with REF:?.2009234522.

Note that all participants in this lottery program
have been selected randomly through a computer ballot
system drawn from over 10,000 Officials and 15,000,000
individual email addresses from all search engines and
web sites, from Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe,
North and South America, Middle East and Africa, as
part of our International Promotions Program.

This promotional program takes place every year, and is
promoted and sponsored by the United Nations
Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
SHELL PETROLEUM Co, and Bill gate of Microsoft and computers.
All winnings must be claimed not later than one month
After the date of this notice. Please note, in order to
avoid unnecessary delays and complications, remember to
quote your Batch number and Serial numbers in all
correspondence.

THIS IS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE LEVEL OF EDUCATION
AMONGST STAFF AND STUDENTS AND ALSO ENCOURAGE THE USE
OF INTERNET ACROSS THE GLOBE.

Your fund is now deposited with the Union Bank plc and
insured in your name for security purpose and clarity.

We advise that you keep your winning information confidential
until your claims have been processed and your money
remitted to your account.

This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claims
and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants.

To begin the processing of your prize payment, you are to
contact the Official Bank responsible for your payment Union Bank Plc.

Bank Name- Union Bank Plc
Dept- Intl Remittance Dept
E-mail: ubn_plc@hotmail.com
Phone- +234-8038807910 (HOT LINE)

You are advised to provide them with the under listed
information as stated below as soon as possible via their
email address above.

1. Name in full...
2. Address...
3. Nationality...
4. Age...
5. Occupation...
6. Phone...
7. Batch/ref numbers...

All winnings must be claimed not later than one month
After the date of this notice. Please note, in order to
avoid unnecessary delays and complications, remember to
quote your Batch number and Serial numbers in all
correspondence.

Furthermore, should there be any change of address do
inform the paying bank as soon as possible.

Congratulations once more and thank you for being part of
our promotional program.

Sincerely,
MR.KOICHIRO MATSUURA,
The Director-General,
UNESCO Organization.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam