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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "James Cole" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <unicefjobs@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:28:03 +0100
Subject: UNICEF JOB OPENING

 
 
Hello,
 
 
How do you do?
 
 
My name is James Cole I work for The United Nations Children's Fund.
 
 
I just came about your email address online and I would be very interested in offering you a part-time paying opportunity in which you could earn a lot. This opportunity would be based on contract and commission terms and would involve quite a handful of trust and honesty.
 
 
Over the years the organization has been rendering helps and supports on humanitarian services pretty much on orphanage homes, less privileged scholarshipand subsidized medication for good health most especially in the developing world.
 
 
At UNICEF, we work hard to support the community. As a brand, we aim to help improve the quality of life for children and their families. This is demonstrated in our role as corporate partner with the Well Child charity with money raised going towards helping sick children and their families.
 
 
Presently, I have just been granted a funding to head a charity support project in the tropical regions of West Africa regarding Poverty Alleviation, Provision of clothing materials to all kids in rural areas, extending to Africa, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Mali etc, and more counseling on AIDS, which is increasing at an alarming rate and provision of basic amenities in support to humanitarian services to the third world nations and this would be commencing very soon.
 
 
However, my funding's were by my American counterparts which sent me the bunch of payments mostly in US based money orders. Getting an accountant in the states or opening an account would have been my best choice but I have a deadline to meet and taking any of those choices would cost me time and a whole lot of other requirements I am not ready to deal with as I would be traveling a lot in the meantime. I would be willing to employ you on contract basis to be my Payment Representative back in the states.
 
 
This way I could issue and make these Payments (Money Orders) out to you, you could then process them easily, deduct ten percent ( 10%) of the total amount on these money orders as your commission for the great service you have rendered in support to saving life's in the third world and then have the rest wired to Organization via Western Union Money Transfer. The Western Union Service fee should also be deducted alongside your 10% service charge before having the rest wired via Western Union.
 
 
Bear it in mind that we would be dealing with quite a handful of money, and you could be making good money working with me in a short period of time.
 
 
I would be glad if you accept my proposal and I intend to commence on the project as soon as you are ready. If you are interested, please do properly fill out the attached Application form, and then we shall make the concluding arrangements.
 
 
UNICEF APPLICATION FORM
 
FULL NAME :
HOME ADDRESS (NOT P. O.BOX) :
CITY :
STATE :
ZIPCODE :
COUNTRY :
PHONE NUMBER (S) Home :
Cell :
EMAIL:
GENDER :
MARITAL STATUS:
AGE :
NATIONALITY :
OCCUPATION :
BANK NAME :
HAVE YOU TAKEN THIS OFFER BEFORE (YES or -NO) :
IF YES COMMENT :
 
 
(Information included in this application form is between you and me, and the full name and contact info should be included as it should be written on the payments being issued over to you, you should also include a valid phone number for easy contact)
 
 
ATTESTATION
 
 
According to how you have been briefed earlier by me. You are required and mandated to receive payment on behalf of the above mentioned firm. You are to deduct 10% of all funds processed on a particular order and forward the balance payment via Western Union Money Transfer as I would be instructing you on receipt of my payments.
You will notify me a week ahead if eventually you want to discontinue this so as to terminate all payment coming your way to avoid conflict.
 
 
In agreement to this kindly append signature below
 
 
 
 
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
James Cole
The United Nations Children's Fund

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