419 scam: "UNITED NATIONS"<infooffice@fb.com> We Need Your Response

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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:
- "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. )
- "tax clearance" (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. )
- "the consignment" (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)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "trunk boxes" (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)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "tax clearance" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
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.
- un002200@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "UNITED NATIONS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <un002200@aol.com>
Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 01:41:02 +0100
Subject: We Need Your Response

INTERNATIONAL FUNDS TRANSFER
U.N REPRESENTATIVE,
UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION
BLOCK 114, U.N BUILDING,
RING ROAD, GARKI
ABUJA, NIGERIA

ATTN: BENEFICIARY,

Following the decision of the outcome of our last meeting with the World
Bank President, Mr Robert Zoellick, International Monetary Fund (IMF),
London and Paris Club on your contract fund of $1.2million.

Office of United Nations wish to bring to your urgent attention that your
contract fund of $1.2million which has been programmed to be paid to you
via cash delivery and your consignment trunk boxes containing your fund is
still in our custody as you are required to come up with the only fee of
$150 being the cost at which the Diplomat bringing the consignment trunk
boxes to you, Mr John Ikpe will use for the obtainment of the Customs and
Tax Clearance Certificate from the Homeland Security, as soon as he arrive
United States of America, before he can be released to deliver your fund to
you.

Office of United Nations wish to make it clear to you that your 2
consignment trunk boxes will not be released to you without
receipt/confirmations of this fee of $150 from you as been directed by the
World Bank President, Mr Robert Zoellick.

Sequel to this development,we hereby implore/solicit for your fast
co-operation in making this payment meant for U.S Homeland Security so that
your 2 consignment trunk boxes will be released to the Diplomat, Mr John
Ikpe who will finally make it available to you at your final destination
point.

More importantly,Office of United Nations hereby warned you for the Safety
and Security of your 2 consignment trunk boxes not to disclose the contents
of those 2 consignment trunk boxes to the Diplomat, Mr. John Ikpe as he was
not meant to understand that those 2 consignment boxes contains Cash to
avoid diversion of your 2 consignment trunk boxes.

However, he was meant to understand that those 2 consignment boxes contains
family belongings.treasury in the form of Silver and Gold which is meant to
be delivered to you.

Be warned that office of United Nations will not be hold responsible for
any outcome which arise as a result of you letting the Diplomat, Mr John
Ikpe knowing the contents of those boxes. Be warned!

Upon the receipt of your good and positive response towards this
development,you will be adviced further.

Thanks and be guided accordingly. Oncemore, kindly accept our
congratulations.

NOTE: RESPONSE SHOULD BE MADE IMMEDIATELY BEFORE IT WILL BE TOO LATE

REPLY TO: un002200@aol.com

CONGRATULATIONS!

KIND REGARDS

MR. MURRAY HUDGES
U.N REPRESENTATIVE,
UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION
BLOCK 114, U.N BUILDING,
RING ROAD, GARKI
ABUJA, NIGERIA

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam