419 scam: "Mrs. Helen Blanchard"<postmaster@localhost.com> From World Bank Switzerland ,

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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.
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- unitedbankforafrica620@yahoo.com.ph (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Helen Blanchard" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bankofficebenin@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 9 Nov 2013 04:18:56 -0800
Subject: From World Bank Switzerland ,

>From World Bank Switzerland ,
No 1 Postfach CH 4002 Basel Switzerland.

Urgent Attention,

I wish to keep you posted on the out come of our emergency meeting with the World Bank president last Friday,Dr. Jim Yong Kim ,international monetary fund (IMF),London,and Paris club and UN SG Ban Ki-moon.I hereby inform you that your winnings/inheritance payment file have been Signed and forwarded to your paying Bank, ( UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA ) where you will receive your fund via online bank wire transfer which you will conduct by your self with out any delay.

Please be advised to contact Mr.Patrick ovia with the below information for your immediate payment.

Below is Mr.Patrick Ovia your paying officer in United Bank for Africa contact details.

Name: Mr.Patrick Ovia

Email: unitedbankforafrica620@yahoo.com.ph

Best Regards,
Mrs.Micky Watts.
World Bank International Auditor.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam