419 scam: "Mrs. Sarah Thomas"<sarah@hotmail.co.uk> 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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "tomsmithdept@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: "Mrs. Sarah Thomas" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <tomsmithdept@w.cn>
Date: Fri, 16 Sep 2011 23:45:18 +0200
Subject: UNITED NATIONS COMPENSATION UNIT

UNITED NATIONS COMPENSATION UNIT,
IN AFFILIATION WITH WORLD BANK
From: Special Envoy to
Secretary-General BAN KI-MOON

SIR/MADAM,

This is to bring to your notice that we are delegated from the UNITED NATIONS in Barclays Bank to pay 50 victims from your country that has being Victims of Internet scam, The United Nations has decided to pay you $500,000 USD (five Hundred Thousand Dollars) each.. You are listed and approved for this payment as one of the scammed victims to be paid this amount, get back to this office as soon as possible for the immediate payment of your $500,000 USD compensation funds.

My dear friend I will like you to contact the finance house for the collection of this international Money. The name and contact address of The Person with your Funds Mr. Tom Smith.

Send a copy of your response to official email:
SECURITY & FINACIAL CONTACT AGENT: Mr. Tom Smith
EMAIL: tomsmithdept@w.cn

You are advised to send your communication particulars,

Full names
Telephone
Fax numbers
Mailing Address
Age
Occupation
E-mail Address

To enable us have your payment approved, you are advised to forward this information to the above office for payment release of your compensation.

Yours Faithfully,
Mrs. Sarah Thomas
Secretary United Nations
General Ban Ki-Moon.
(Financial officer)United Nations...
http://www.unorg/sg...

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam