419 scam: "UNITED NATIONS EDUCATION GRANT" <unedugrant@un.org> Award Grant!

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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:
- "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)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
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.
- +2347041560612 (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.
- dbnplcng@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "UNITED NATIONS EDUCATION GRANT" <unedugrant@un.org>
Reply-To: dbnplcng@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2010 18:16:34 +0800 (MYT)
Subject: Award Grant!

OFFICE OF UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (OHCHR)
PALAIS WILSON
52 RUES DES PAQUIS
CH-1201 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
ONLINE WINNING NOTIFICATION
GLOBAL ELECTRONIC AWARD PROMOTION 2010

Ref no:ELX23649/441
Batch no: 005874652/252

Attn! Winner,

We are pleased to inform you, that as the result of our
recent award draw held February 2010, Your e-mail address
attached to winning number: kST/571/UNNP with serial
number:345 drew lucky numbers: 8. which consequently won
in the 5th category.You are therefore approved for a
lump sum pay of(NINE HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS) in
cash credited to file with REF:?.NDP/EGS2309/05.

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
sponsored by UNICEF in collaboration with the United Nations
Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization,SHELL
PETROLEUM Co.

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 Diamond Bank of Nigeria plc
and insured in your name for clarity and security purpose.

Your file falls within the West African region, therefore to
begin the process and claims of your prize you are by this
notice requested to contact our fiduciary Bank (Diamond Bank Plc),
in Lagos, Nigeria immediately with their contact information
below.

Bank name: Diamond Bank plc
Dept: Intl Remittance Department.
E-mail: dbnplcng@gmail.com
Phone: +2347041560612

You are advised to provide these information as stated below to
facilitate the release and transfer of your fund to you.

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.

Sincerely,

Prof Audrey Johnson
United Nations Grant Officer.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam