419 scam: "Ms. Carman L. Lapointe"<copier@swsi.com> United Nations Office of International Oversight Services (OIOS)

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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "tax clearance" (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. )
- "bank charges " (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. )
- "million united states 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)
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "i will advice you " (this email uses bad English)
- "tax clearance" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
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.
- +2348054079072 (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.
- legalattachoffice@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Ms. Carman L. Lapointe" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <legalattachoffice@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 02:10:36 +0200
Subject: United Nations Office of International Oversight Services (OIOS)

United Nations Office of International Oversight Services (OIOS)
Internal Audit, Monitoring, Consulting and Investigations Division
From: Ms. Carman L. Lapointe
Head of United Nations Under-Secretary
General for Internal Oversight Services

Dear Sir/Madam,

It is my pleasure to introduce myself to you; my name is Ms. Carman L. Lapointe. I am the Head of United Nations Under-Secretary- General for Internal Oversight Services assigned by the United Nations to settle Nigeria debt to her beneficiaries. PLEASE NOTE THAT I HAVE LIMITED TIME TO EXECUTE YOUR FUND PAYMENT HENCE I WILL ADVICE YOU TO CONTACT ME URGENTLY FOR YOUR PAYMENT IN THIS FIRST QUARTER. PLEASE READ MY LETTER TO YOU AS FOLLOWS and adhere to my directives.

After series of complaint from the FBI and other Security agencies from Australia, 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 on in these two Nations. For more information about me kindly click on the below link or copy and paste on your web browser.

http://www.un.org/Depts/oios/pages/usg.html

Right now, as directed by our secretary general Mr.Ban Ki-Moon, We have agreed with the Nigerian Government that your fund would be paid to you through the Bank Transfer Via special arrangement as first installment.

This is to enable you have enough funds to pay for the Tax Clearance and Bank Charges before you will receive the balance of US$14.1M (Fourteen Million One Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only). Being Telex Transfer fee and this is the only financial obligation that you will undertake to receive the US$1,000,000.00 (One Million United States Dollars Only) through the Bank Transfer.

Just yesterday my intelligent network has discovered that some top Nigerian Government Officials are interested in your fund and wants to divert it into their personal accounts. Note that I have a very limited time to stay here in Nigeria, so I would like you to urgently respond to this message so that I will advice you on what to do in order to receive your long awaiting fund. Kindly get back to me immediately with your full name, address and direct phone number for oral conversation.

Lastly, I will like you to reconfirm your information to me such as your full name, address, telephone number, bank name, and banking information so that I will process with your Bank Transfer within the next 24 hrs and the transaction information will be released to you.

For further information you can reach us through this contact details.

Cell phone: +2348054079072

Email: legalattachoffice@gmail.com

Yours Sincerely,

Ms. Carman L. Lapointe
Head of United Nations Under-Secretary
General for Internal Oversight Services

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam