419 scam: UNDP <info@undp.com> Dear Friend

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "certificate fee" (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. )
- "security keeping fee" (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. )
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "william_smith@admin.in.th" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2348082777059 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: UNDP <info@undp.com>
Reply-To: secretarymercy12@aim.com
Date: Thu, 6 May 2010 23:54:29 +0200
Subject: Dear Friend

Dear Friend,

I have been waiting for you to contact me for your Confirm able Bank
Draft of $800.000.00 United States Dollars,donated by the Coca Cola
Bottling Company in conjunction with the United Nations Development
Program.This program is aimed to encourage you to patronize our
products and also help families with the current Global crisis all
over (Europe, American, Asia and Africa), hence no ticket sold, but I
did not hear from you since that time. Then I went and deposited the
Draft with FedEx COURIER SERVICE, West Africa, I traveled out of the
country for a 6 Months Course and I will not come back until end of
November. All you have to do now is to contact the dispatch director
as soon as possible to know when they will deliver your package to you
because of the expiring date. For your information, I have paid for
the delivering Charge, Insurance premium and Clearance Certificate Fee
of the draft. The only money you will send to the FedEx COURIER
SERVICE (WEST AFRICA) to deliver your Draft direct to your postal
Address in your country is ($215.USD) only being the Security Keeping
Fee of the Courier Company so far. Again, do not be deceived by
anybody to pay any other money except $215.Dollars. I would have paid
that but they said no because they do not know when you will contact
them and in case of demurrage. You have to contact the dispatch
director of FedEx COURIER SERVICE West Africa now for the delivery of
your Draft.

Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your Postal address; Direct
telephone number; Do send it to them again to avoid any mistake on the
Delivery and ask them to give you the tracking number to enable you
track your package over there and know when it will get to your
address. Let me repeat again,try to contact them as soon as you
receive this email to avoid any further delay and remember to pay them
their Security Keeping fee of $215.00 US Dollars for their immediate
action. You should also let me know through email as soon as you
receive your Draft, find below the
dispatch director's contact.

Contact Person: Mr.William Smith
Email Address: william_smith@admin.in.th
Telephone: (+234)808 277 7059.

Yours Faithfully,
Miss. Mercy Donald.

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam