419 scam: Office <om---------------b@att.net> DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SURVEILLANCE

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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:
- "the consignment" (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)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "trunk boxes" (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)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "a diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- +447077087472 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
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.
- unifinunit@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Office <om---------------b@att.net>
Reply-To: marywash4@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2011 02:11:41 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SURVEILLANCE

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SURVEILLANCE
AFRICAN UNION FUND RECOVERY,
LONDON OFFICE: 193 CHURCHILL PLACE, LONDON, E17 6HP.
E-mail:unifinunit@yahoo.com
TEL: 44-7077-087-472
FAX: 44-7077-087-472

Attention:Sir,

Sequel to series of reports and Complaints received From Individuals mainly from Europe, America and Asia claiming that there funds are being held in various Banks in Africa because of the fraudulent practices by African Banks especially in Nigeria, Leaders of the G-8 decided to deliberate over this matter at the recent meeting of the G-8 in Japan and it was discovered that it is always very difficult for most Banks in Africa to do normal wire transfer because of various restrictions.

Often times, officials of these Banks end up demanding monies from Beneficiaries in order to affect their fund transfers and after paying those monies, the Beneficiaries never get their funds so it was agreed that all Unclaimed Funds should now be paid in Cash to the Beneficiaries through Diplomatic Courier Delivery System. Under this arrangement, your fund will be sealed in Trunk box (es) and will be locked with an unlock code that will be given to you. A Diplomat who has Immunity will deliver the trunks as a Diplomatic Luggage to your country. Meanwhile, for security reasons, the Diplomat will not know the contents of the boxes. The content is assumed to be Jewelries and personal valuables being delivered to you.This will ensure that nothing happens to your consignment on transit.
The African Union Recovery was given a mandate to search through all the Banks in Africa and recover all unclaimed funds and deliver it to the Beneficiaries under the above-mentioned arrangement.

Your Fund was among the Funds that were seen as Unclaimed and it has been packed in two trunk boxes and will be delivered to you in the United States by the Diplomat.

The Diplomat who will accompany the fund does not know the contents of the Trunk Boxes for security reasons so once the Diplomat arrives the United States, You will be notified so that you will go personally to the Airport to claim your consignment after Customs Clearance.

You have to respond to this mail by sending us your Full Names, Address and Phone Number.

You are required to get prepared to clear the Consignment as soon as the Diplomat arrives the States.

You will be informed of the Arrival date of the Diplomat.
Thanks.

Mrs.Mary Wash

INFORMATION:FINANCIAL SURVEILLANCE (AFRICAN UNION) LONDON

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam