419 scam: Joe Colins <123funsho@gmail.com> United Nations Office Of International

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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. )
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: Joe Colins <123funsho@gmail.com>
Reply-To: joecolins001@outlook.com
Date: Thu, 16 May 2013 17:37:12 +0100
Subject: United Nations Office Of International

United Nations Office Of International
Internal Audit, Monitoring, Consulting and Investigations Division
Financial Regulatory Agency
Regional Headquarter United State Of America
From: Joe Colins.

To: Unpaid Beneficiary,

This is to inform you that I came to Nigeria yesterday from Canada,
after series of complaint 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 and the
British Government for the high volume of fraudulent activities going
that is on in these two nations.

Right now, as directed by UN secretary General named Ban Ki-Moon we
are working in collaborations with the Nigerian Financial Crime
Commission/agencies and we have decided to waive away all your
clearance fees/Charges and authorized the Government of Nigeria to
effect your overdue payment worth $10.5M only into your account
without any delay as approved and instructed by CANADIAN government
and UNITED NATIONS. But the only fee you will pay to receive your fund
is the Notarization fee. Upon your request, I will tell you the amount
and also send you the payment information you will use in sending the
Notarization fee.

Sincerely, you are a lucky person because I have just discovered that
some top Nigerian and Canadian Government Officials are interested in
your fund and they are working in collaboration with One Mr. Richard
Graves from USA to frustrate you and thereafter divert your fund into
their personal account.

Note that I have a very limited time to stay in Nigeria here so I
would like you to urgently respond to this message with your full
name, full address, direct phone number so that I can advise you on
how best to confirm your fund in your account within the next 72
hours. Once again, the only fee you will pay to receive your fund is
the Notarization fee which is $1500. only, Upon your request, I will
send you the receiver's information where the payment will be made to
for the Notarization fee.

Sincerely yours,
From: Joe Colins.
Financial Regulatory Agency
Regional Headquarter United State Of America

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam