419 scam: John Burns <"diplomats."@ocn.ne.jp> PAYMENT REF: UNIFRO-UK/103/18-3-CLIENT-966/15

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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:
- "swift card payment center" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
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.
- dept.foreignaffairssettlements@citromail.hu (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: John Burns <"diplomats."@ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: John Burns <dept.foreignaffairssettlements@citromail.hu>
Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2017 17:50:07 +0900 (JST)
Subject: PAYMENT REF: UNIFRO-UK/103/18-3-CLIENT-966/15

Directorate of International Payments and Transfers
Debt Reconciliation Committee
United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC)
PAYMENT REF: UNIFRO-UK/103/18-3-CLIENT-966/15

Dear Account Holder ,

We wish to notify you that your unpaid fund which has been located to a suspense account have been triggered to UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA (UBA). We are contacting you now because, yesterday two foreigners (Mr. Tim Parker and Mr. Rowland Gulf) visited our office in your stead to inform us that they are your representatives from the United State, whom you delegated as beneficiaries to collect your Funds in your absence.

We do not understand why you sent these men to come and Collect your Funds on your behalf. Due to the rise in international financial crimes and the many complaint we have received and addressed in recent years, we in collaboration with IMF are the team of experts that henceforth monitor and supervise international financial payments. Because of this, we will not want to make any mistake in releasing this Funds to anyone except you who is the recognized beneficiary to the Funds.

Kindly clarify us on this issue before we make this Payment to these foreigners who came on your behalf.

However, if you did not authorize this payment, we will suspend all your pending transfers and arrange your payment through our swift card payment center after verification. You are required to get back to us immediately to verify your identity by providing the information as requested below:

REQUIREMENTS
(1) Your Full Names:
(2) Your Address/Country:
(3) Your Telephone Number:

Send all response via email to: dept.foreignaffairssettlements@citromail.hu

In receipt of this confidential email, you are required to get back to us immediately to proceed with the funds release or stop with the release to your representatives and claim your funds personally.

We anticipate your earliest cooperation in this regards.

Yours,

Mr John Burns
Public Information Officer
Dept Foreign Affairs Settlements
United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC).

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam