419 scam: "United Nations" <compensations@un.org> CONGRATULATIONS!!! CONTACT MR JIM OVIA FOR YOUR DRAFT

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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:
- "00,000.00" (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 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.
- +2347058438810 (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.
- jim.ovia5680@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "United Nations" <compensations@un.org>
Reply-To: <jimovia89@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 16 May 2011 04:53:55 +0100
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!! CONTACT MR JIM OVIA FOR YOUR DRAFT

Congratulations,

The United Nations Security Council, hereby receives your payment with
reference number #.MAV/UNO/WBO/LM-05-371 amounting to US$500,000.00 ( Five hundred thousand dollars only )

This council was set up to fight against scam and fraudulent activities
worldwide, responsible for investigating the legitimacy of unpaid contract, inheritance and lotto
winning claims by companies and individuals and directs the paying authorities
worldwide to make immediate payment of verified claims to the beneficiaries without " YOU WILL GAIN ONLIN ACCESS

READ FROM HEAR ON DOWN"
further delay.

Your said payment was deposited with Zenith Bank and you will gain online access
for you to access and transfer your funds through internet banking, we also confirmed that you
have met all statutory requirements in respect of your pending payment except that you have to
change the name on the account which we opened for you with your funds, presently the name on the
account is UNITED NATIONS so you need to change it to your name..

This important notice is to let you know that your payment is ready to be
moved by Zenith Bank Online banking transfer system where the account was opened.

All you are to do now is to contact Zenith Bank for your online account informations so that you can logon to the

account to confirm the availability of your funds then after that you will have to change the name on the account

to your own personal name because the name we used in opening the account for you is UNITED NATIONS.

please note you will not be able to transfer your funds until you change the name on the account so you are to

contact Zenith bank with your informations as needed below.

(1) Your Full Name:
(2) Home Address:
(3) Phone, Fax and Mobile Number:
(4) Company Name/Occupation:
(5) Bank Name

Here are the contact details of Zenith Bank which you are to contact immediately for your online account

informations to confirm the availability of your funds.

BANK NAME: Zenith Bank Plc.
EMAIL: jim.ovia5680@gmail.com
PHONE: +2347058438810

you have to try to contact them as soon as possible so they can send you the online account informations as we have

already informed them that you will be contacting them for the request of the account informations, please do not

forget to contact them with your details as your request might be ignored if your informations is not included to

prove that the message is coming from you.

Yours Faithfully,

MR JIM OVIA
Director, Special Duties

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam