I love phishing and Nigerian scam letters. I love receiving letters from the late wife of the former president of Burkina Faso, when they cannot even spell “Burkina Faso” correctly. There is something to be said for human stupidity and greed. I’ve just received a new scam letter. It is better written than other similar letters, so I will reproduce it here with my comments in blue (red was a bit annoying):
UNITED NATIONS ORGANISATION
IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND
WORLD BANK FACT-FINDING & SPECIAL DUTIES OFFICE
[Impressive name-dropping here. UN, IMF and the World Bank, all in the first three lines!]
Office of The Director Special duties.
London, United Kingdom
TEL: +447031924614
FAX: +448709127823
Email: *deleted*@msn.com
[First mistake. We are asked to believe that this UN worker is sending this message from his MSN account. The phone number is a mobile phone number. Don’t they have offices at the UN-IMF-WB?]
Special duties reference
**UNO/WBF LM-05-371**
**ORDERING CONTRACTOR:
UNO/WBF – UK
DIPLOMATIC BOX 55KG
[That sounds impressive, we have a code!]
To the Beneficiary,
[Another typical scam flag, you are never addressed by name]
The World Bank Group, Fact Finding & Special Duties office In conjunction with the United Nations Organization, has received part of your pending payment with reference number (LM-05-371) amounting to US$ 5Million (Five Million United State Dollars) out of your contractual/inheritance funds from our ordering contractor Bank quoting reference to UNO/WBF LM-05-371, the said payment is been arranged in a Security-proof box weighing 55kg padded with synthetic nylon. According to information gathered from the bank’s security computer we were notified that you have waited for so long to receive this payment without success, we also confirmed that you have not met all statutory requirements in respect of your pending payment.
[Why would the UN and the World Bank handle inheritance boxes? Are the funds contractual/ or inheritance? This is tailored for people who have no idea how the UN works]
You are therefore advised to contact our Payment Clearance Department to obtain necessary information to the Security Courier Service Company that is specialized in sending diplomatic materials and information from one country to another, which also has diplomatic immunity to carry consignment (Box) such as this.
[Where to start with this one? Why does anybody require diplomatic immunity to carry consignment boxes? ]
This office has met with this Security Courier Service and concluded shipping arrangement with them,therefore shipment will commence as soon as we have your go ahead order,the diplomat who will be bring in this Consignment(Box) to you is an expert and has been in this line of work for many years now so you have noting to worry about.
[They could at least try to get their grammar right]
After all arrangements we have concluded that you must donate Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (USD500,000.00) to a charity organization we designate to you as soon as you receive your money. To this effect, in your response you should send to us a promissory note promissing to donate the stated about and also with your address where you will like the Box to be delivered. Please maintain topmost secrecy as it may cause a lot of problems if found out that we are using this media to help you. Therefore you are advised not to inform anyone about this until you received your money.
[Finally! Here is the hook. They are making you a favour by bringing this in, but you will have to do something in order to get it.]
The above requirement qualifies you for final remittance process of the received sum. Please confirm message granted with “GO AHEAD ORDER” on mail:
[Yeah, sure. You can steal my DVD collection while you’re at it as well.]
6 Comments
Anonymous · March 8, 2007 at 10:01 am
I've just received a varition on this theme but they don't ask for money! I wonder how that work?Here is the messae below and header:From Mr. Williams BaronDirector Special Duties, United Nations OrganizationIn Conjunction with the International Monetary FundWorld Bank Fact-Finding & Special Duties OfficeLondon, United Kingdom.+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++IMMEDIATE PAYMENT FOR CONTRACT #.MAV/UNO/WBO/LM-05-371**#.UNO/WBO LM-05-371****ORDERING CONTRACTOR**"UNO/WBO" SG To the Beneficiary,The World Bank Group, in conjunction with the United Nations Organization, hereby receive your payment with reference number #.MAV/UNO/WBO/LM-05-371 amounting to US$ 30,000,000.00 (Thirty Million United State Dollars). From the records of outstanding contractors due for payment with the United Nations Organization your company is next on the list of outstanding contractors who are to receive their payments. According to information gathered from the UNO's human resource database we were notified that your payment is ready to be transferred to your account and i therefore wish to inform you that your payment is being processed and will be released to you as soon as you respond to this letter.Please re-confirm to me if this is inline with what you have in your record and also re-confirm to me the following:(1) Your Full Name:(2) Phone, Fax and Mobile Number:(3) Company Name, Address and Position:(4) Profession, Age and Marital status.As soon as this information is received, your payment will be processed and transfer will be made into your account immediately from the international fund remittance department. For more information and clarifications do not hesitate to reach me either via my private Email address, Telephone or Fax as soon as you receive this notice.Congratulations.Best Regards,MR. WILLIAMS BARONTel: +44-70-3195-6726Fax: +44-87-0912-7823
Valerie · October 20, 2008 at 11:53 am
I got this same thing as a fax at my home phone number….which is registered on the National Do Not Call list…not that crooks are going to pay any attention to that!
Valerie · October 20, 2008 at 5:53 pm
I got this same thing as a fax at my home phone number….which is registered on the National Do Not Call list…not that crooks are going to pay any attention to that!
Lieya · November 12, 2008 at 6:27 am
I also got the email. But they write like this…THE UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATIONIn Conjunction with the International Monetary FundWORLD BANK FACT-FINDING & SPECIAL DUTIES OFFICELONDON, UNITED KINGDOM. Dear Sir/Ma The United Nations Security Council, hereby receives your payment withreference number #.MAV/UNO/WBO/LM-05-371 amounting to US$10,625,000.00 (TenMillion Six Hundred and Twenty Five Thousand United States Dollars) Thiscouncil was set up to fight against scam and fraudulent activities worldwide,res ponsible for investigatin This important notice is to let you know that your payment is ready to be movedby Swift Bank Transfer (Five working days) to your account or via diplomaticmeans of cash delivery (Two days) to your door step. Please note that yourpayment will be processed and released to you as soon as you respond to thisconfidential letter by reconfirming to us the following details:(1) Your Full Name:(2) Home Address:(3) Phone, Fax and Mobile Number:(4) Company Name/Occupation: (5) Home Address:(6) Payment option (Bank Transfer/Cash delivery):Immediately the above details are received and validated, your payment will beprocessed within 48hours. Yours Faithfully,REV. FATHER DAVID PAGEDirector, Special Duties
walter rothe · January 4, 2010 at 2:42 pm
where is interpol in all this?
wolfgang · March 14, 2010 at 4:37 am
This mails reached me today (12-03-2010) in bad german translation. Also I got a fax, but there a personal adress was used.
I cannot believe, that the UN is using a fax and a mail, informing someone about such important News. I don't accept this.
This was thae mail:
Special duties reference*UNO/WBF LM-05-371**
**ORDERING CONTRACTOR: UNO/WBF – SG
Zur Aufmerksamkeit,
Das Büro der Weltbankengruppe-, Untersuchungs- u. Sonderzölle in Verbindung mit der Nationen-Organisation, hat Teil Ihrer ausstehende Zahlung mit der internationalen Belegnummer (LM-05-371) belaufend auf €8,077.025, aus Ihren Erbschaftkapital heraus von unserer Auftragsunternehmer Bank empfangen, der Hinweis auf UNO/WBF LM-05-371, die besagte Zahlung veranschlägt, wird niedergelegt bei Uni Caixa Trust Funds.
Entsprechend den Informationen, die vom Sicherheitscomputer der Bank erfasst wurden, ersahen wir, dass Sie seit langer Zeit erfolglos auf die Auszahlung dieses Kapitals warten, wir bestätigen aber auch, dass Sie nicht alle gesetzlichen Vorschriften, in Bezug auf Ihre ausstehende Zahlung getroffen haben. Sie werden folglich geraten, sich mit Uni Caixa Trust Bank in Verbindung zu setzen.
Angesichts dieser Richtlinien werden Sie aufgefordert,sich mit der UNI CAIXA TRUST FUNDS (AUSLANDSZAHLUNG- UND BEARBEITUNGSABTEILUNG) MADRID, SPANIEN in Verbindung zu setzen,
Carolina Lopez (internationale Fonds-Geschäftsführung)
UNI CAIXA TRUST FUND
CALLE DE SAN JULIÁN 6, 28801, MADRID ESPAÑA.
Telefon: 34 914 143 259 TELEFAX: 34 911 311 829
Und bestätigen Sie Ihre internationale Belegnummer und Ihre Bezugskennummer, die das Büro angesichts der abschließenden Überweisungszustimmung und des folgenden Gutschreibens auf Ihrem Bankkonto nach der Anrechnung des Kapitals, wie angegeben, braucht. Wir weisen Sie daraufhin, dass Sie sich mit der oben erwähnten Bank für weitere Zahlung in Verbindung setzen.
SEHR WICHTIGE BEMERKUNG: Versichern Sie, dass Sie die oben angegebene Person mit der oben genannten Telefonnummer anrufen, um der Bank zu ermöglichen in Ihrer Angelegenheit mit Dringlichkeit zu handeln. Wir informieren Sie, dass Sie nur aufgefordert werden, die Summe von €3,127.00 nach Anweisung der oben angegebenen Person zu zahlen. Diese Zahlung ist für die Erbschaftskapitalsfreigabe-Zustimmungsbescheinigung, die jede andere mögliche Anforderung ersetzt. Mit dieser Bescheinigung kann nichts mehr die sofortige Freigabe/die Überweisung Ihres Kapitals behindern.
Folglich werden Sie geraten, niemanden über dieses zu informieren, bis Sie Ihr Geld empfangen. Die oben genannte Anweisung qualifiziert Sie für den abschließenden Überweisungsprozeß der zu empfangenen Summe.
Entdeckt haben wir die Nachrichtenpublikation über The Sun Vereinigtes Königreich.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Rev. Fr Mark Phillips
Direktor, Sonderzölle UNO/WBF.