419 scam: "Office of the UN. African Region"<michelle@un.org> receive your fund

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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "clearance fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Office of the UN. African Region" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <unitednations@yahoo.cn>
Date: Tue, 9 Aug 2011 01:46:07 +0800
Subject: receive your fund

UNITED NATIONS OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL OVERSIGHT SERVICES Internal Audit, Monitoring, Consulting & Investigations Division From: Mrs. Michelle Bachelet Dear Sir/Madam, This is to inform you that I came to Nigeria on Friday 27th may, 2011, after our commission received series of complaints from the FBI and other Security agencies from Asia, Europe, Oceania, Australia, South America and the United States of America respectively, against the Federal Government of Nigeria and the rate of scam/fraudulent activities going on in their country. I have met with President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who claimed that he has been trying his best to make sure you receive your fund in your account. Right now, as directed by our secretary general Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, We have decided to waive away all your clearance fees and authorize the Government of Nigeria to effect the payment of your fund into your account without any delay. The only fee you will pay to confirm your fund in your account is your United Nation Non-Interference & Notarization fee to the UN resident representative Officer in Nigeria for the issuance of this certificate. Sincerely, you are a lucky person because I have just discovered that some top Nigerian/British Government Officials are interested in your fund and they are working in collaboration with One Mr. John Zhang from china to frustrate you and thereafter divert your fund into the account below: CHINA CONSTRUCTION BANK,SHANGHAI-CHENGIAQIAO SUB BRANCH ADDRESS:2323 JIAN HE ROAD SHANGHAI POSTCODE:200336 ACCOUNT NUMBER:6227 0012 1746 0249 842 SWIFT:PCBCCNBJSHX ACCOUNT NAME:MAGNA GROUPS I have a very limited time to stay in Nigeria so I would like you to urgently respond to this message so that I can advise you on how best to confirm your fund in your account within the next 72 hours. Sincerely yours, Mrs. Michelle Bachelet Under-Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director Office of the UN. African Region.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam