419 scam: "United Nations."<info@unitednations.org> Please Read Carefully..

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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- ",500,000" (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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "United Nations." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <unitednations.uk77@yahoo.co.id>
Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 06:05:08 -0000
Subject: Please Read Carefully..

UNITED NATIONS
(REGIONAL FUNDS RELEASE / AUDIT UNIT)
3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL

YOUR OUTSTANDING CONTRACT/INHERITANCE FUNDS

Having received series of complaint from various Beneficiaries whose Contract/Inheritance payment are still pending, the United Nations throught its team of Auditors decided to review the Contract/Inheritance payment Files. Your payment of Eleven Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$11,500,000) according to your File is still pending.

Add to the above, your Payment file contains a Letter purportedly written by you stating that you have willingly forfeited your Contract/Inheritance Funds and we would like for you to reconfirm this forfeiture.

The United Nations via my office has been authorized to handle your Payment File and based on our recommendation, your outstanding Contract/Inheritance Funds have been credited in our Paying Bank Escrow Account in your Favor, should you are still interested in receiving your Funds. More so, to process your Payment, you are required to provide the below information:

1. Full Name
2. Residential Address
3. Telephone Number (Mobile Number if any)
4. Age and Marital Status
5. Core Job or Occupation
6. A valid form of identification.

Yours truly,

Phil Mulligan
Director General,
United Nations, United Kingdom

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam