419 scam: "Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon"<laotour@peoplepc.com> (I apologize on behalf of my organization for any delay you might have)

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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:

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:
- "cheque " (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 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.
- +2348067601233 (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.
- jimoviaoo11@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <Secretary-General BanKi-moon@un.org>
Date: Sat, 14 May 2011 01:43:23 +0100
Subject: (I apologize on behalf of my organization for any delay you might have)

UNITED NATIONS / WORLD BANK COMPENSATION UNIT. Our Ref: U.N/WBO/042UK/2011.

Attention: My good friend, How are you today? Hope all is well with you
and family?, You may not understand why this mail came to you. We have
been having a meeting for the past 7 months which just ended Few days ago
with the secretary to the UNITED NATIONS. This email is to all the people
that have been scammed in any part of the world, the
NATIONS IN
Affiliation with WORLD BANK have agreed to compensate them with the sum of
USD $1.5MillionDollars.

This includes every foreign contractors that may have not received their
contract sum, and people that have had an unfinished transaction or
international businesses that failed due to Government problems etc. We
found your name in the list of those who are to benefit from these
compensation exercise and that is why we are contacting you, this have
been agreed upon and have been signed. You are advised to contact Mr Jim
Ovia of our paying center in Africa, as he is our representative in
Nigeria, contact him immediately for your Cheque/ International Bank Draft
of USD$1.5MillionDollars.

This funds are in a Bank Draft for security purpose ok?, so he will send
it to you and you can clear it in any bank of your choice. Therefore, you
should send him your full Name and telephone number your correct mailing
address where you want him to send the Draft to you. Contact Mr. Jim Ovia
immediately for your Cheque at the given address below:

Bank Name: Zenith Bank Plc.
PERSON TO CONTACT: MR. JIM OVIA
E-MAIL: jimoviaoo11@hotmail.com
Tell: 234-806-760-1233

I apologize on behalf of my organization for any delay you might have
encountered in receiving your fund in the past. Thanks and God bless you
and your family. Hoping to hear from you as soon as you cash your Bank
Draft. Making the world a better place.

Regards,

Secretary-General

Ban Ki-Moon

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam