419 scam: "UN" <Mr. Lee McCartney> RE: PAYMENT APPROVAL UPDATE

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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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "UN" <Mr. Lee McCartney>
Reply-To: unpn2014@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 04 Sep 2014 00:32:06 +0100
Subject: RE: PAYMENT APPROVAL UPDATE

Attention:

RE: PAYMENT APPROVAL UPDATE

Following the resolution of the United Nations Council on Inheritance,
contract and lotto winning fund settlements which draws representatives from United
Nations Department of International Financial Relations, IMF, and World Bank, we wish
to officially inform you that we have been mandated to handle your payment of the sum of
$10,000,000.00 USD with reference number UNDIFR/A2GX/7.5M2532XX14, which shall
be effected through Lloyd's Bank London.

However, owing to the high rate of cyber fraud, a Unique Transaction Reference code
has been designed for you for security and protection purpose. Before we issue you
your unique transaction Reference code which you have to present to the bank for the
transfer of your fund, we need to confirm your identity so as to be sure that this
directive got to the actual beneficiary. In this regard, you are expected to get
back to us and confirm your identity with the following details;

Full Names
Address
Telephone numbers
Occupation
Copy of Identification (Passport or Driverâ€™s License)

As soon we confirm your identity, we shall send you your Transaction Reference code,
copies of your legal and approval documents, as well as the bank details so that
you can contact the bank for your payment.

We expect your immediate response for further clarification.

Mr. Lee McCartney
Director,
United Nation Office

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam