419 scam: Office File <officefile----0010@att.net> FROM:UNITED NATIONS COMPENSATION UNIT.

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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:
- "swift card payment center" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "card center will send you an atm card" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "million dollars" (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)
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "rev.bensonwood@w.cn" (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.

Fraud email example:

From: Office File <officefile----0010@att.net>
Reply-To: rev.bensonwood@w.cn
Date: Sat, 26 Feb 2011 03:25:33 -0800 (PST)
Subject: FROM:UNITED NATIONS COMPENSATION UNIT.

FROM:UNITED NATIONS COMPENSATION UNIT,IN AFFILIATION WITH WORLD BANK.

Attn:Beneficiary,

                                 How are you today?
We have been having series of meeting for the past 8 months which ended 2 days ago with the secretary to the UNITED NATIONS.We wish to inform you that effect from Jan 24th, 2011 UNITED NATIONS directive has been implemented by The government of west african countries head in Abuja nigeria to settle all the people that have been scammed in any part of the world MOSTLY IN WEST AFRICAN SUB REGION, the UNITED NATIONS have agreed to compensate them with the sum of US$1.5Million Dollars.

This includes every foreign contractors that may have not received their contract sum, and people that have had an unfinished transaction 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.

This directive sets part-payment of US$1.5Million Dollars to beneficiary WHO FAIL VICTIM OF INTERNET SCAM and direct transfers from commercial banks both within and outside Nigeria would no longer be approved to fund beneficiary at the CBN Clearing House. Such transactions are now to be paid to beneficiary through the Automated Teller Machine (ATM).

To receive you ATM Card, kindly make available your

1::Your full name::
2::Your home address to send the atmcard::
3::Current occupation::
4::Age::
5::Your current home telephone number/mobile phone number:: ::
6::A Copy of your identification::

We have arranged your payment through swift card payment center Asia pacific, this oceanic bank plc card center will send you an Atm Card which you will use to withdraw your money in any Atm machine in any part of the world, but the maximum is One Thousand,Five Hundred United States Dollars Per-Day.

This meeting was first held on the 8th of April 2003 by the secretary to the UN.You can view this page for your perusal:

http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2003/ik344.doc.htm

We have paid for the processing and delivery charges . and the only fee that you are going to pay is for obtain the certificat of ownership from the federal high court of Benin Republic on your name.

Kindly contact the below person who is in position to release your ATM Payment Card. Send your information which they will use to send the card to you.You are advised to contact our paying center as they are our representative in Cotonou Republic of Benin.Contact person:Rev.Benson Wood, immediately to receive your compensation without any delay.

Atm Department.

Rev.Benson Wood.
Financial Director.
Email: rev.bensonwood@w.cn
Tel: (00229) 99 80-58-03.

We will request you to get back to this office as soon as you have received and confirmed your payment.


Making the world a better place.


Regards,
Mrs.Alice Lacson.
For United Nation.
G537 W Lehigh Ave,
Philadelphia, PA 19133

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam