419 scam: "Mr. Ferdinand Stone"<unitednations@un.org> UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "atm payment department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "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)
- "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)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2348083697630 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- mrdonaldobi@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- department, (united bank for africa) email address: (mrdonaldobi@yahoo.com) direct office lines: +234-8083-697630 contact him now for (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Ferdinand Stone" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <unitednationso7@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 17 Feb 2013 00:02:35 -0800
Subject: UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION

UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION
LONDON ANNEX OFFICE
UNITED KINGDOM

Dear Sir/Madam

IRREVOCABLE PAYMENT ORDER VIA ATM CARD

We have actually been authorized by the newly appointed united nation secretary general, and the governing body of the UNITED NATIONS monetary unit, to investigate the unnecessary delay on your Winning/Inheritance payment, recommended and approved in your favor. During the course of our investigation, we discovered with dismay that your payment has been unnecessarily Delayed by corrupt officials of the Bank who are Trying to divert your funds into their private
accounts.

So Right Now An irrevocable payment guarantee has been issued by the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on your Payment. However, we are happy to inform you that based on our recommendation/instructions, your complete Winning/Inheritance funds has been credited in your favor through ATM CARD.

You are therefore advice to contact:MR. DONALD OBI
Director ATM Payment Department, (United Bank for Africa) Email Address: (mrdonaldobi@yahoo.com)
Direct Office lines: +234-8083-697630

Contact him now for the delivery of your ATM card. As soon as you establish a contact with him, an ATM card will be issued to you immediately which you can use to withdraw your funds in any ATM machine in any part of the world, but the maximum is Twenty Five Thousand dollars per day. So if you like to receive your funds through this means you're advised to contact (Mr. Donald Obi) with the following information as stated below:

1. Your Full Name:
2. Address Where You Want the Courier Company to Send Your Atm Card
To (P.O Box Not Acceptable)
3. Your Age:
4. Occupation:
5. Telephone Numbers:

NOTE: You are advised to furnish Mr. Donald Obi with your correct and valid details. Also be informed that the amount to be paid now is US$8,300,000.00 (Eight Million Three Hundred Thousand United States Dollars). We expect your urgent response to this email to enable us monitor this payment effectively thereby making contact with Mr. Donald Obi as directed to avoid further delay.

REPLY TO: unitednationso7@gmail.com) for any question or contact Mr.
Donald as you where told.

Congratulations.
Mr. Ferdinand Stone
UNITED NATIONS.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam