419 scam: "UNITED NATIONS"<unitednations@un.net> Read Carefully!!!

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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:
- "transfer into your account" (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.
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.
- halifaxbank.plc@london.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "UNITED NATIONS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <halifaxbank.plc@london.com>
Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 18:51:46 +0100
Subject: Read Carefully!!!

_{Read Carefully!!!}

_{This electronic message is confidential and strictly for you.}

_{We wish to inform you that we have officially verified your account with your bank and have found your account eligible to receive the fund valued $4.600,000.00 (Four million six hundred thousand dollars.) from United Nations Government ongoing compensation program that has been duly processed and approved to be transferred into your personal account as a result of the recent world economic and financial crisis.}

_{Please reconfirm your personal Information once again to enable the bank effect transfer immediately to your bank account.}

_{You are to contact the Halifax Bank Plc for the immediate transfer of your said fund to your bank account. You are to contact the below information of the Halifax Bank Plc.}

_{BANK NAME: HALIFAX BANK PLC UNITED KINGDOM (UK)}

_{DIRECTOR IN CHARGE: MR. EDWARD SMITH}

_{EMAIL ADDRESS: halifaxbank.plc@london.com}

_{As soon as they hear from you, they shall commence the T/T wire transfer into your account.}

_{Please advise them immediately for onward action.}

_{Thank you}

_{Bank Security}

_Alert.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam