419 scam: "Mr John Smith"<unoffice@un.org.co.uk> Are THey Your Representative?

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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:
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- mrjohnsmith714@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr John Smith" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrjohnsmith714@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2013 10:07:07 -0000
Subject: Are THey Your Representative?

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)
DEPT: WORLD DEBT RECONCILIATION AGENCIES.
ADVISE: YOUR OUTSTANDING PAYMENT NOTIFICATION
Date:28-02-2013

Attention

A power of attorney was forwarded to our office this morning by two

gentle men, one of them is an American national and he is MR DAVID

DEANE by name while the other person is MR.JACK MORGAN by name a

CANADIAN national.

This gentlemen claimed to be your representative, and this power of

attorney stated that you are dead, they brought an account to replace

your informations in other to claim your fund of $12.5 Million Usd

which is now lying DORMANT and UNCLAIMED, below is the new account they

have submitted:

BANK.-HSBC CANADA
Vancouver, CANADA
ACCOUNT NO. 2984-0008-66

Be further informed that this power of attorney also stated that you

suffered and died of throat cancer. You are therefore given 24hrs to

confirm the truth in this information, If you are still alive, You are

to contact us back immediately, Because we work 24 hrs just to ensure

that we monitor all the activities going on in regards to the transfer

of beneficiaries inheritance and contract payment.

You are to call this office immediately for clarifications on this

matter as we shall be avaliable 24 hrs to speak with you and give you

the neccessary guidelines on how to ensure that your payment is wired

to you immediately.

Just also be informed that any further delay from your side could be

dangerious, as we would not be held responsible for wrong payment.

Kindly reply via email: mrjohnsmith714@hotmail.com and call +44

7872288259

Mr. John Adams
mrjohnsmith714@hotmail.com
International Monetary Fund Agent

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam