419 scam: "UNITED NATIONS / WORLD BANK ORGANIZATION / FBI"<meridene@meridenegrant.com> PAYMENT AUTHENTICATION.

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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "huge deposit" (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)
- "million united state 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)
- "million 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- philipmoore295@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "UNITED NATIONS / WORLD BANK ORGANIZATION / FBI"<meridene@meridenegrant.com>
Reply-To: philipmoore295@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2015 22:13:57 -0500
Subject: PAYMENT AUTHENTICATION.

PHILIP CHAMBERS
Solicitors, Property Consultants
Advocates, Notary Public,
High Court Representative.
Suit 202 Omega Plaza, Apapa,
Lagos Nigeria.

Dear Friend,

I am BarristerPhilip Moores,(SAN) a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney to late Engr.Steve Williams a national
of Isle of Man in UK, who was a contractor with Shell Development Company in Nigeria. On the 21st of April 2012,my client, his wife and their only daughter were involved in a car accident along sagamu express road, Lagos.

All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. And since then I have made several enquirers to locate any of my clients extended relatives this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to search over the
Internet; to locate any member of his family hence contacted you. As you may bear with me, a next of kin maybe the parents, sister, brother, close relative, associate, friend or even a well-wisherâ€™s, whether you are related to him or not is never a barrier to realizing the transaction.

I am contacted you to assist in repatriating the money left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Bank where this huge deposits were lodged. The Bank where the deceased had an account valued at about $27 million US dollars has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next 21 official working days, the Bank I am talking about is (Zenith bank PLC)

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives now i seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at $27 million US dollars (Twenty seven million united state dollars) can be paid to you and then you and i can share the money. I have all necessary details that can be used to back up the claim as the legal adviser to my late client.

All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us seeing this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you and i from any breach of the law. Please get in touch with me on my direct Email (philipmoore295@gmail.com)

1, Your Name
2, House Address
3, Your Phone/Fax Number
4, Your Age and Gender
5, your occupation

Best Regards,
Barrister Philip Moore.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam