419 scam: "SCERETARY GENERAL"<undersecretary001@gmail.com> Hello: OVERDUE PAYMENT RELEASE ALERT!

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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:
- "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)
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.
- +442080401178

Fraud email example:

From: "SCERETARY GENERAL" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mdzenithuk@mailbox.sk>
Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2015 07:53:33 -0700
Subject: Hello: OVERDUE PAYMENT RELEASE ALERT!

UNITED NATIONS HEAD OFFICE
760 United Nations Plaza,
New York 10017, USA.

Tel: +1 (929) 888 - 9298

Your attention, please.

This is to bring to your personal knowledge that the United Nations, IMF, World Bank and European Union and Africa and Asia heads of government have unanimously agreed that all beneficiaries of Inheritance, Compensation, Lottery and Contracts which was stalled or you were unable to receive for the past couple of years due to corruption and government bureaucracies will now be paid the sum of US$5.8Million (US$5,800,000.00) as compensation for the delays and financial commitments made by you.

A motion was adopted in the last UN General Assembly meeting. Your country's Ambassador/Representative to the UN raised the issue and your name was listed as one of the beneficiaries to receive a total of US$5.8Million. Also we agreed that the ZENITH BANK (UK) LIMITED, will make the payment to you on our behalf.

In order to avoid wrong payment to the wrong person, you are therefore to reconfirm your detail to the ZENITH BANK (UK) LIMITED, immediately.

Your Name in Full:
Current/Contact Address:
Telephone:
Fax(if available):
Occupation:
Copy of your ID:
Alternative Email Address:

And as soon as you filled the above data, please send to:

Contact Person: John Weguelin
Position: Chief Executive Officer - Zenith Bank (UK) Limited.
Email: mdzenithuk@mailbox.sk
Tel: +442080401178

He will effect a favorable action upon receiving your email. So quickly do the needful and contact him asap.

Once again we sincerely apologize for the delays you encountered and losses you suffered while trying to receive your rightful fund.

Thank you.

Ban Ki-Moon
Secretary General, UN
New York, USA.

The information in this message is confidential and may be legally privileged. It is intended solely for the addressee. Access to this message by anyone else is unauthorized. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, or distribution of the message, or any action or omission taken by you in reliance on it, is prohibited and may be unlawful. Please delete the message and immediately contact the sender if you have received this message in error.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam