419 scam: "UNITED NATIONS OFFICE"<info@unitednation.org> UNITED NATIONS COMPENSATION UNIT

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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:
- "million united state dollars" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
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.
- mrjamesphillipss@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "UNITED NATIONS OFFICE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <unitednationsbkk@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 09:26:06 -0800
Subject: UNITED NATIONS COMPENSATION UNIT

UNITED NATIONSCOMPENSATION UNIT,
IN AFFILIATION WITH WORLD BANK.
Permanent Mission of Thailand to the United Nations
351 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10022

Our Ref: UN/TH/069011

Date: 03/11/2009

RE: COMPENSATION OF US$1,000.000.00

How are you today? Hope all is well with you and family? You may not understand why this mail came to you. We have been having a meeting for the passed 3 months which ended yesterday with the secretary to the UNITED NATION. This email is to all the people that have been scammed in any part of the world, the UNITED NATIONS have agreed to compensate them with the sum of US$1,000.000.00 (One Million United State Dollars Only) each and you have to indicate how much you lost in the hand of scammers.

This includes every foreign contractor; Inheritance and Lottery payment that have not received their Lottery/Inheritance payment, and people that have had an unfinished transaction or international Lottery payment that failed due to Government problems etc. We found your name in our list and that is why we are contacting you, this has been agreed upon and has been signed.

You are advised to contact Mr. James Phillips for the delivery of your ATM CARD through our paying center in Asia as he is our representative in Thailand, contact him immediately for your ATM CARD PAYMENT of US$1,000.000.00. This fund is in ATM CARD PAYMENT SYSTEM for security purpose, so he will send it to you and you can withdraw the fund in any bank of your choice.

Therefore, you should send him your full Name and telephone number your correct mailing address where you want him to send the ATM CARD to you. Contact Mr. James Phillips immediately for the Delivery of your ATM CARD to your home address:

Person to Contact: Mr. James Phillips
Email: mrjamesphillipss@yahoo.com.hk
Tel: Tel: (66)823221492

Hoping to hear from you as soon as you receive your compensation funds.

United Nations, Making the world a better place.

Regards,

Ban Ki-Moon
Secretary-General

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam