419 scam: "Ms.Carman L. Lapointe" <mrs.carman_lapointe20@w.cn> From: Ms.Carman L. Lapointe

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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:
- "clearance fee" (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. )
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "economic and financial crime commission" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "(efcc)" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Ms.Carman L. Lapointe" <mrs.carman_lapointe20@w.cn>
Reply-To: mrs.carman_lapointe20@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2013 18:20:24 -0600
Subject: From: Ms.Carman L. Lapointe

UNITED NATIONS OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL OVERSIGHT SERVICES
Internal Audit,Monitoring,Consulting And Investigations Division

From: Ms.Carman L. Lapointe
Attention: Sir/Madam,

This is to inform you that I came to Nigeria yesterday from London,
after series of complains from the FBI and other Security agencies
from Asia, Europe, Oceania, Antarctica, South Erica and the United
States of America Respectively, against the Federal Government of
Nigeria and the British Government for the rate of scam activities
going on in these two nations.

I have met with the New President of Federal Republic of Nigeria
President Good luck Ebele Jonathan of who claimed that he has been
trying his best to make sure you receive your fund in your account
since he was elected as president.

Right now, as directed by our secretary general Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, We
are working in collaborations with the Nigerian Economic and Financial
Crime Commission (EFCC) and have decided to waive away all your
clearance fees/Charges and authorize the Government of Nigeria to
effect the payment of your compensation of an amount of $10.5M
approved by both the British government and the UN into your account
without any delay. The only fee you will pay to confirm your fund into
your account is your Notarization fee, which will cost you only but
$295, 00 united state dollars, to the UN.

Sincerely, you are a lucky person because I have just discovered that
some top Nigerian and British Government Officials are interested in
your fund and they are working in collaboration with One Mr.Richard
Graves from USA to frustrate you and thereafter divert your fund into
their personal account.

I have a very limited time to stay in Nigeria here so I would like you
to urgently respond to this message so that I can advise you on how
best to confirm your fund in your account within the next 72 hours.

Sincerely yours,
Ms. Carman L. Lapointe
United Nations Under-Secretary-
General for Internal Oversight

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam