419 scam: "REV. PAUL DANIEL"<paul@advancedcontractorsinc.com> UNITED NATION OFFICE.

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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. )
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "ems-delivery10@live.com" (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.
- +2348059102022 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "REV. PAUL DANIEL"<paul@advancedcontractorsinc.com>
Reply-To: <ems-delivery10@live.com>
Date: Sun, 16 May 2010 20:14:39 +0100
Subject: UNITED NATION OFFICE.

UNITED NATION OFFICE
COMPENSATION DEPARTMENT
ABUJA,NIGERIA.

Dear Friend,

I have been waiting for you to contact me for your Confirmable ATM CARD of $800.000.00 United States Dollars, after you were unable to come up with the shipping fees,but I did not hear from you since that time.Then I went and deposited the ATM CARD with EMS COURIER SERVICE, West Africa,I would traveled out of the country for a 3Months Course and I will not come back till end of June 2010.

What you have to do now is to contact the EMS COURIER SERVICE as soon as possible to know when they will deliver your check to you because of the expiring date. For your information, I have paid for the delivering Charges, Insurance premium fees and Clearance Certificate Fees of the ATM CARD showing that it is not a Drug Money.

The only money you will send to the EMS COURIER SERVICE to deliver your ATM DEBIT CARD direct to your postal Address in your country is ($105.00 USD)Dollars only being Security Keeping Fee for the check with the Courier Company so far.Again, don't be deceived by anybody to pay any other money except $105.00 US Dollars. I would have paid that but they said no! because they don't know when you will contact them and in case of dumorage. You have to contact the EMS COURIER SERVICE now for the delivery of your Check with this information below:

Director General EMS Express West Africa Mr. Charles Martins
Email Address:ems-delivery10@live.com
Mobile: +234 8059102022

Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your Postal address and direct telephone number to them again to avoid any mistake on the Delivery and ask them to give you the tracking number after you must have sent the fees of $105.00 dollars for the Security fees 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 $105.00 US Dollars for their immediate action.

You should also let me know through email as soon as you receive your ATM CARD.

Regards,
Rev.Paul Daniel
UNITED NATIONS OFFICE

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam