419 scam: UNITED NATIONS <unitednationsunit@btinternet.com> Attention: Beneficiary,

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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.
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.
- atmcenter31@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: UNITED NATIONS <unitednationsunit@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: unitednationslaw@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 13 May 2010 16:08:25 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Attention: Beneficiary,

UNITED NATIONS ASSISTED PROGRAMME

DIRECTORATE OF INTERNATIONAL PAYMENT AND

TRANSFERS. UNITED NATIONS LIASION OFFICE

LONDON UNITED KINGDOM

WIRE TRANSFER/AUDIT UNIT

Attention: Beneficiary,

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 7 months which ended 2 days ago with the secretary to the UNITED NATIONS. 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$ 900,000,00

This includes every foreign contractors that may have not received their contract sum, and people that have had unfinished transaction or international businesses that failed due to Government problems etc. We found your name in our list and that is why we are contacting you, this have been agreed upon and have been signed.

You are advised to contact Mr Jim Ovia of ZENITH BANK NIGERIA PLC, as he is our representative in Nigeria, contact him immediately for your INTERNATIONAL ATM CARD of USD$900,000,00. This funds are in a INTERNATIONAL ATM CARD for security purpose OK? so he will send it to you and you can access it in any ATM center of your choice in your country.

Therefore, you should send him your full Name,Occupation,sex/age, position in your office and telephone number your correct mailing address where you want him to send the ATM CARD to you.Contact Mr Jim Ovia immediately for your ATM CARD:

Person to Contact: Mr Jim Ovia

Email: atmcenter31@gmail.com

Bank Name: ZENITH BANK PLC

Department: ATM CARD SECTION

Thanks and God bless you and your family. Hoping to hear from you as soon as you receive your atm card. United Nations Making the world a better place.

Ban Ki-Moon

Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam