419 scam: "UNITED NATIONS"<info@un.org> UNITED NATIONS ALERT gtx

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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:
- "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. )
- ",500,000" (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)
- "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)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "economic and financial crime commission" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "(efcc)" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "UNITED NATIONS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mitchelgoldstein@yahoo.cn>
Date: Mon, 5 Dec 2011 11:35:20 -0800
Subject: UNITED NATIONS ALERT gtx

UNITED NATIONS OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL OVERSIGHT SERVICES
Plot 617/618, Diplomatic Zone
Central Area District
P.M.B. 2851, Garki
Abuja, Nigeria.

ATTN: BENEFICIARY

This is to inform you that I came to Nigeria from United States of America, after series of complains from the FBI and other Security agencies from Asia, Europe, South America and the United States of America respectively, against the Federal Government of Nigeria for the rate of scam activities going on in the country.

Right now, as directed by our secretary general Mr. Ban Ki-Moon. We are working in collaborations with the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). We have decided to waive away all your clearance fees/Charges and authorize the Government of Nigeria to effect the payment of your compensation of an amount of US$1,500,000.00 approved by the UN into your account without any delay. We already have your name in our Claimant List as stipulated in article 41 of the Provisional Rules for claims.The Governing Council therefore devised a mechanism for the allocation of available funds to successful claimants that gave priority to the three urgent categories of claims and which, within each category, would give equal treatment to similarly situated claims. The Category comprises of bank to bank transfer, ATM Card payment and Cashier check.

Now your new payment approved numbers are follows
United Nation Approval No; Un5685p,
White House Approved No: Wh44cv,
Reference No.-35460021,
Allocation No: 674632
Pin Code No: 55674
Certificate of Merit Payment No: 103,
World Bank Released Code No: 0763;

We are conducting a standard Process investigation on behalf Wells Fargo Bank, United State Of America. The private banking arm of the international banking conglomerate. This investigation involves, a man Who Came to our Office Claiming to be your true representative. Here is his information for your urgent confirmation to this office if this man is truly from you or not as the government will not be held responsible for wrong transfer.

For Paying Into The Wrong Account.
Name: Mr. Edward Marsh
Bank Name: Wells Fargo Bank
Bank Address: California, USA.
Account Number: 6503809428.

Please reconfirm to this office, As a matter of urgency if this man is from you. We have actually been authorized by the newly appointed UN Secretary General, and the Governing body Of The United Nations Monetary Unit to investigate the unnecessary delay of your fund payment. However, we shall proceed to issue all payments details to the said Mr. Edward Marsh, If we do not hear from you within The next Seven working days from today.

I have a very limited time to stay in Nigeria here 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.

Regards,

Mitchell Goldstein
Investigation Department (UN)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam