419 scam: "UNITED NATIONS" <linda.greenfield@un.org> I wish you good health and speedy recovery.

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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 united states 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)
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
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.
- icjoffice77@yahoo.co.jp (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "UNITED NATIONS" <linda.greenfield@un.org>
Reply-To: icjoffice77@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Wed, 9 Mar 2011 09:22:34 -0400
Subject: I wish you good health and speedy recovery.

From: Ambassador Linda Greenfield
Reply me at: icjoffice77@yahoo.co.jp

Re: I have arrived United States of America.

I am Ambassador Linda Greenfield, a Diplomat/Funds Management. I pray that
this letter meets you in good health. I wish to notify you that under the
World bank/United Nations payment assisted project to settle all long
outstanding debt owed to foreigners from Africa or Europe.

As instructed by your next of Kin (Paul Smith, of Oklahoma USA,) he contacted
me to deliver this parcel that contains your approved ATM card to him in the
United States of America, with instruction to call him upon arrival at the
airport.

This ATM card was given to me to bring to the United States after he presented
a sworn affidavit to the United Nations, World Bank and Barclays Bank London
UK, that you have authorized him to collect your inheritance/ contract/
lottery fund valued One Million, five hundred thousand united states dollars
on your behalf. He mentioned that due to your ILL HEALTH that have made it
impossible for you handle this transaction personally.

I arrived New York international airport, with this ATM card sealed up in a
parcel with the United Nations 'SEAL OF Approval upon this I have called Paul
Smith on the telephone number that was submitted alongside his address and
also sent him several emails from my Laptop but no reply. This is why I
decided to write you the original beneficiary of the fund (as I still have
your email address) to know if you can help me in locating him.

I need you to kindly respond to this email and let me know how I can locate
your next of kin Paul Smith or when you can come to the airport and pick-up
this parcel by your good self. It is very important that you respond to this mail.

I wish you good health and speedy recovery.

Best regard,
Ambassador Linda Greenfield

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam