419 scam: "United Nations"<info@un.org> (HELLO)

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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:
- "jimovia001@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
- +2347025340579 (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.
- jimov25@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "United Nations" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jimovia001@live.com>
Date: Sun, 24 Feb 2013 06:24:09 -0500
Subject: (HELLO)

Congratulations Beneficiary,

We wish to inform you that the UN / WORLD BANK ORGANIZATION facilitated a round-table meetings which just ended some days ago, and it has been agreed upon that compensation payment of US$500, 000, 00 should be paid to 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 or the other etc. Also, we have been receiving complain from beneficiaries informing us that they are yet to receive the payment due .

However, it is my pleasure to inform you that Bank Draft No: 158545*90*3365*99940333 have been reserved for you. So you are hereby advised to contact our payment representative in Africa affiliated with ZENITH PAYMENT CENTER with your payment file number: 82509.

You are advised to contact Mr. Jim Ovia of our paying center in Africa, as he is our representative in Africa, contact him immediately for your ATM card/ International Bank Draft of USD$500, 000, 00. This fund is in a Bank Draft or ATM card for security purpose. He will send it to you and you can clear it in any bank of your choice there in your country.

You are to contact Mr. Jim Ovia at the address below:

Contact Person: Mr.Jim Ovia
E-MAIL: jimovia001@live.com
E-MAIL: jimov25@gmail.com
PHONE: +2347025340579

Congratulations,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.

NOTICE: This E-mail (including attachments) is covered by the Electronic Communication Privacy Acts, 18 U.S.C Sec 2510-2521, is confidential and may be legally privileged. The information is solely for the use of the addressee named above. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution, or other use of the contents of this information is strictly prohibited. If you have received this E-mail in error, please notify us by return e-mail and delete this message

Anti-fraud resources:

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