419 scam: "OIOS-U.N" <OIOS3@wj3lvi8fe.homepage.t-online.de> Western Union Payment from OIOS..

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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:
- "western union" (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. )
- "bank charges " (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. )
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "hundred thousand u.s 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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "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. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: "OIOS-U.N" <OIOS3@wj3lvi8fe.homepage.t-online.de>
Reply-To: <un.7583oiso@blumail.org>
Date: Fri, 22 Jul 2011 03:09:50 +0100
Subject: Western Union Payment from OIOS..

UNITED NATIONS OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL OVERSIGHT SERVICES

Internal Audit, Monitoring, Consulting and Investigations Division.

Attention: Beneficiary,

My name is Ms. Carman L. Lapointe, from the United Nations. It is my distinct pleasure to write you again. As you are well aware many foreigners have invested thousands of United States Dollars into Europe, Asia, Iraq and Nigeria transactions in Hopeless Dreams to have none of them become a reality. According to our investigation, your email has one way or the other been spammed for so called transactions.

Right now, as directed by our secretary general Mr.Ban Ki-Moon, We have agreed with the Nigeria Government and other countries that US$3.5M (Three Million Five Hundred Thousand U.S Dollars) would be paid to you as compensation. US$100,000.00 (One Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) would be paid to you through the Western Union Money Transfer Via special arrangement as first installment. This is to enable you have enough funds to pay for the Tax Clearance and bank charges before you will receive the balance of (Three Million Four Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only) US$3.4M

Please take note that you will pay (Two Hundred and Forty Dollars only) US$240.00, being Notarization fee and this is the only financial obligation that you will undertake to receive your first US$100,000.00 (One Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only) through the Western Union Money Transfer.

Based on the above subject matter, I would like you to reconfirm your information to me such as your full name, current address and telephone number so that I will process your Payment via Western Union Money Transfer.

I await your response for further proceedings.

Sincerely yours,

Ms. Carman L. Lapointe.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam