419 scam: UNICEF <unicef@unicef.com> UNICEF

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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.
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: UNICEF <unicef@unicef.com>
Reply-To: affairs@representative.com
Date: Sat, 28 Jun 2014 04:11:24 +0300
Subject: UNICEF

--
Hello,

I am Mrs. Jennifer Williams, the chief consultant Early Childhood
Development in Emergencies UNICEF . I have been mandated to search for an
individual to foster a 14 year old child who lost his parents on the
ongoing Syrian war. His father was an African-American Military contractor
but died along his wife with no relative to care for their child.

Please be informed that any one who adopt/foster this child will be
privileged in handling the child's inheritance of $7.8m and pressures
stones of high value which is in a security company, this will be initiated
through the help of the family lawyer. 50% of the inheritance will be
invested by that individual on-behalf of the child till his legal age, 30%
for his upkeep while 20% accrued to the foster parent for service rendered.

Note that adopting or fostering this child doesn't mean he will live with
you in your home, he might be placed in a children's home in your country
till his legal age. Even though you are not in a position to adopt/foster
this child, you might know someone who can. God bless you as you help the
helpless. I wait to hear from you.

Regards.
+1 646 513 5039

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam