419 scam: "Heidi Mendoza"<hmendoza@usa.net> Urgent,

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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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
- ",500,000" (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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Heidi Mendoza" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <hmun100@qq.com>
Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2016 20:50:23 -0700
Subject: Urgent,

Attn: Beneficiary

My name is Ms. Heidi Mendoza, Head Of United Nations Under-Secretary- General For Internal Oversight Services.

Meanwhile, I wish to inform you were among the scam victims listed to be released their overdue funds by the UNITED NATIONS in conjunction with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) after the last encounter we held concerning your funds. As directed by UN secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in collaborations with the IRS, I wish to state categorically that a transfer of $10,500,000.00 will be made to your bank account as almost 99% cost associated with the transfer of your funds has been prepaid by the U.S. Government. The only fee you will pay is the cost of processing a "Fund Clearance Certificate" by the paying bank. The "Fund Clearance Certificate" is required in accordance with the U.S. Monetary Transfer or deposit Policy and it is the only fee you will have to pay before your funds can be transferred to your account. After you have paid for the above mentioned certificate, the paying bank will process it and send a copy of it to you for your perusal.

Note once again that your overdue payment will be credited into your account you will furnish with the Bank without any delay as approved by United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and United States Government.

However, this is to inform you that we have been mandated by the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) department through the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) of the United States Department of the Treasury to release your overdue funds directly from the United Nations Compensation Fund Account via Telegraphic Transfer into your designated bank account. Note that the above sum is the payment of compensation awarded to you for losses and trauma resulting directly from scam committed against you in line with the Resolution 1483 (2012) adopted by the United Nations Security Council Headquarters in New York following series of complaints by the victims of scam.

Right from this moment, I will advise you to stop all further conversation with whomever you might be in contact with, promising to transfer your money to you, either through Lottery Winnings, Act as a Next of Kin, investment plan, dating from any social websites or any other related issue that involves transferring money as they are all nothing but fake.

Urgently respond with your full name, full address, copy of identification and direct phone number so that I will furnish you with the contact information of the paying bank. Remember, they will instruct you on how to send the money to them as soon as you contact them.

Yours Sincerely,

Ms. Heidi Mendoza

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam