419 scam: Unique Beads Inc <unbeads@gmail.com> Greetings from "Unique Beads Inc" U.K

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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)
- "% commission" (Beware of any scheme that involves depositing checks or money orders or receiving wire transfers in your bank account and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere, for a percentage of 5-15% of the total. Such offers are *always* fraudulent and you will be liable for the entire amount when the checks, money orders or wire transfers turn out to be fraudulent. Any money already forwarded comes out of *your* pocket then. )
- "u.k " (this email uses bad English)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "money orders " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
This email message is a company representative scam. This type of job offer scam involves the cashing of fake checks and money orders. It could expose you to losses of tens of thousands of dollars as well as to the risk of criminal prosecution and (in some cases) imprisonment.

Fraud email example:

From: Unique Beads Inc <unbeads@gmail.com>
Reply-To: uniquebeads.inc@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 4 Nov 2011 13:17:55 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Greetings from "Unique Beads Inc" U.K

Dear Friend,

Greetings from "Unique Beads Inc".Unique Beads Inc. is a small Company which specialised in the collection and supply of AFRICAN TRADE BEADS - JEWELRY - ARTEFACTS and CURIOS ancient and modern. I run the Company with my lovely Husband Mr. Melvin Gallegos who has been contributing immensely to the growth of our Business.

Our product range includes Bohemian Crystal Cut Glass Beads, Feshwater Pearls and more. We supply International Stores with household names, Craft Shops, Market Traders and individuals. We have been selling our products since the last 3 years and have had our work featured in magazines. We supply our Beads, Jewlery and Artefacts mostly to stores and individuals in United States of America. Our supply to USA has really increased our turnover.

However, my husband and I are always facing serious difficulties when it comes to PAYMENTS, this is because most customers in U.S are always offering to pay us with U.S MONEY ORDERS or CHECKS which we find very difficult to cash here in U.K Right now, my husband and I are looking for a representative in the U.S who will be helping us to cash the U.S MONEY ORDERS or CHECKS as the case may be and wire the cash to us here in U.K.

We have a lot of customers in U.S, therefore a Representative there will highly be useful to the growth of our business. So we write you to seek for your partnership, we want you to be our AMERICA REPRESENTATIVE so that our Customers there can be issue the MONEY ORDERS or CHECK in your name and you will need to cash them and send the cash to us here in the UK.

If you accept this offer, you shall be receiving 10% commission as your interest for any amount of checks/money orders you cashed, which means that you can be earning at least $2000.00 Two Thousand American Dollars every week as your commission becuase we have a lot of customers in the U.S. If you are okay with this offer, we will instruct all our customers to raise Checks/Money Orders on your name and send it to your address. When you receive the Checks/Money Orders and cash them at your bank, you will deduct 10% from the total money as your commission, and send the balance to us here in U.K.

This project is 100% risk free and it is legal from the American Government. If you are interested, kindly send me the below information's:

1. Your Complete Full Names.
2. Your Shipping Address.
3. Your age and Occupation.
4. Your Telephone number

Respond as soon as possible with the above required information to enable me contact my Customers.

Best Wishes,

Catherine Gallegos,
Unique Beads Inc.
134 East End Road,
London N2 0SZ, United Kingdom

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam