419 scam: "Howard Alen"<h.alen_un@office.com> TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN!

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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:
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- howardalen@yahoo.com.ph (Yahoo, Philippines, Philippines; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Howard Alen" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <howard.alen@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2015 21:17:38 -0800
Subject: TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN!

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN!

I want to use this opportunity to inform you that the United Nations compensation committee is paying the sum of (USD2.5M) to all the scam victims, over due contract payment, Lottery awards, Next-of-kin etc. Kindly get back to us and tell us where your payment fall in and also indicate if you have received yours (USD2.5M), but if you have not received your compensation you please also indicate.

We have tried all every possible means to contact you but it failed because we lost your contact and we want to know if you are still alive and also know if you still want your compensation/payment as directed by the United Nations so that we can finalize this transaction once and for all.

Note that you must stop all further transaction with any Banks, agents, Payment Center, Diplomatic Agent and Financial institution as discussed and concluded in United Nations compensation committee summit/meeting in London last 2 weeks.

Note that you can also visit this link (http://www.uncc.ch/status.htm) to see the data of all compensatory funds paid to individual under this program. Get back to us as soon as possible so that we will articulate the way forward.

Kindly get back to me with my private email howardalen@yahoo.com.ph for more details.

Best Regards,

Howard Alen

DIRECTOR (UN COMPENSATION COUNCIL)

1 United Nations Plaza

New York

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam