419 scam: "Mr Ban Ki-Moon"<info@lee.com> Unpaid Beneficiary,

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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:
- "western union" (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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "huge sum of money" (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)
- "hundred thousand us dollars" (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)
- ",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)
- "my direct telephone number" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "mrban_kimoon@yahoo.cn" (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.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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.
- +2348066644301 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Ban Ki-Moon" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrban.kimoon@yahoo.cn>
Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2013 06:18:11 +0100
Subject: Unpaid Beneficiary,

FROM THE OFFICE OF UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON
OFFICE ADDRESS: UNITED NATIONS SECRETARIAT NEW YORK, NY 10017
MY DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER: +1-239-673-4712

To: Unpaid Beneficiary,

UN CONTRACT ATM CARD PAYMENT NOTIFICATION

This is to bring to your notice that my office has taking over all the money transfer originated from any part of American, African country and European countries as contract payment, fund inheritance or lottery winning due to unauthorized/incapability of financial institutions/security companies in releasing such huge sum of money result of fraud, terrorist and money laundry activities going on World Wide.

We have been having series of meetings for the passed 1 month now which ended 2days ago with the Nigeria Government, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, HSBC Bank of United Kingdom (UK) with the World Bank Officials. This email is to all the people that have been scammed in any part of the world, the United Nations, Federal Reserve Bank of New York HSBC Bank of United Kingdom (UK) Central Bank of Nigeria, with the World Bank officials have agreed to compensate them with the sum of Ten Million, Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars each victim. This includes every foreign contractor that may have not received his or her contract sum and people that have had an unfinished transaction, people who have inheritance to claim or international businesses that failed due to instability of government in some part of World.

For more information about me kindly click on the below link or copy and paste on your web browser.

http://www.un.org/sg/biography.shtml

It is my pleasure to inform you that ATM Master Card Number: 5428050011004432 have been approved in your favor, The ATM Card Value is $10,500,000 USD (Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand, USD Only) You are advised that a maximum withdrawal value of $25,000.00 USD is permitted on withdrawal per day and are duly Inter Switch so you can make withdrawal at any ATM locate Center of your choice around the world.

The delivery arrangement has been concluded with the Nigeria UPS courier Express services, So You are advised to contact your ATM Card delivery department agent Mr. David Brown Contact Phone No: +234-8066644301 with the delivery fee of $98 and also with your Full Name.....? Valid Telephone/fax....? and your mailing Address...? Where you want your card to be delivered to you okay. Note This is the only fee you will pay to receive your fund.

Here is Our Account Officer In Nigeria for you to send the delivery cost.

Receiver's Name: JOSEPH ALLISON
Address: 13 ALKA STREET, KETU, LAGOS, NIGERIA
Test Question: IN GOD
Test Answer: WE TRUST

Send the $98 via Western Union Money Transfer Or Money Gram and Mail the MTCN NUMBER and the sender's name, the sender's country and your delivery information to My Email Address(mrban_kimoon@yahoo.cn

Treat urgently and note that your ATM Card is ready and available for dispatch to you, As soon as you done that, do not hesitate keep me posted.

Regards,
MR. BAN KI-MOON
United Nations Secretary-General

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam