Sadly there are people out there trying to scam other folks and while some of their offers may sound tempting at first glance, be sure to understand that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is not true.
I have written about scams around the UN before here. But since this just hit my inbox, I’m posting it as a reminder for all of you:
Hello,
This letter might come as a surprise to you especially since we have never met or had a discussion before, basically this message might sound strange but it is factual in reality if only you care to know, The truth is that I should have notified you through a more confidential means, (even in the least to respect your integrity) please accept my humble apologies if I have caught you unaware, I frankly do not mean any harm in passing my message.
I am a Project Manager with the United Nation Development Program Asia pacific (UNDP) I am also the concerned principal with contract appraisal and the approval of contracts in order of priority in regards with capital projects of the (UNDP) here in the Asia. With my position as the principal director of operations, I have successfully secured the sum of one hundred and twenty eight million dollars (US$128Million) the amount was accumulated from over invoices. To this effect I decided to contact you and ask for your assistance, to enable us work together and transfer this amount into your overseas account.
I am willing to compensate you with 40% of the total amount upon a successful conclusion of this transaction. Finally the confidence and trusted repose on you cannot be over emphasized; therefore you are to keep this deal to yourself completely confidentially. Your reputation will be highly protected in this transaction. I shall be pleased to have a personal phone number where I can personally contact you, while looking forward to a successful business relationship with you.
You can kindly contact me on this number +[REDACTED]. It will be a great pleasure to have you call me so that I can give you a verbal update regarding this proposal.
Best Regards
Mr. J. George
Just to be perfectly clear: neither UNDP nor any of their staff have anything to do with this mail. So don’t fall for these scams! Of course this just a new version of the old run of the mill 419 scams which have been around for decades and which can in their origins can be tracked back to the 18th century.
Dear Sebastian,
I have received a similar scam letter, see below. I knew it was a scam and was searching for a way to report this to the UNDP till I found your site. Kindly publish again as this is just very recent. All the best.
mirchelle
On Tuesday, January 5, 2016 5:52 PM, Mr. Michael O’Neill wrote:
UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (UNDP)
XXX MALES STREET, LONDON W1p 1DH UNITED KINGDOM.
Our Ref: WB/NF/UN/098/2015
UN Payment Code: 06898
Tell: +44 74183XXXXX
Attention: UN Beneficiary,
Be informed that United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) wishes to entrust
the sum of Ten Million Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars ($10,800,000.00 USD) in
your care for developmental purpose. The United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP) is a foundation owned by the Organization of (UNDP). We discovered that
most countries are facing a lot of poverty, joblessness, and creativity in most
of their locality and upgrade their society/community by using this fund to
assist the orphanage home, Old Age, less privileges, creation of local jobs
opportunities, destitute etc.
UNDP is a development organization aimed at improving lives across the world.
This program tagged “Grass-Roots Program†is part of efforts to improve
standard of living through direct participation in community development across
several communities all over the world by empowering selected individuals to
implement and provide basic amenities to needing communities and
organizations.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been undertaking several
developmental projects across the world, but we have decided to take this
approach in order to
enhance proficiency and ensure grassroots development by reaching the local
communities.
UNDP Fund Aims At:
1. Promoting cooperation between UNDP Fund Member States and other developed
and developing countries as an expression of solidarity with other nations of
the world.
2. Helping particularly the poor, low-income countries in pursuit of their
social and economic advancement.
3. Promoting equitable distribution of wealth.
This is to Notify you that due to Europe Economic recess program which started
after the bailout of Greece & Spain economic crises, we have routed all our
huge payment
accessibility via our CORRESPONDENCE BANK in Nairobi Kenya, Therefore kindly
contact CitiBank plc with bellow information for your fund.
Paying Officer: Pxxxxx Ally. The Head Remittance Manager,
Email address: xxxxxxx@yahoo.fr
Telephone: +254-xxx xxx xxx
Provide Them with the below details for documentation purpose:
1) Scan Copy of Your National Identity Card or your International Passport:
2) Full Names:
3) Residential Address:
4) Country:
5) Nationality:
6) Mobile Number:
7) Occupation:
You are to urgently respond to this mail with detailed information on how you
plan to expend the funds in community development because that is the basis for
this grant and not for personal luxury, you will equally remunerate yourself
reasonably to ensure success of the project.
Yours faithfully
Mr. M.xxxx O’Neill
Zonal Coordinator (UNDP)
UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (UNDP)
Exactly, this is a scam. Thanks for sharing. As mentioned before – do NOT send personal information / money!
Sebastian I just got the scam as well with names I don’t know how to send them to u though
No need to send the names – as long as you don’t fall for it, all is well. Good luck!
Today I received the below mail and I am sure it is also scam :
Von: Steve Smith
Datum: 18.04.2016 14:40:51
An: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Betreff: COMPENSATION OF 800.000,- EURO TO MR.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
From the desk of
Steve Smith
Director Compensation Department.
United Nation office.
NOTIFICATION OF 800 EURO COMPENSATION TO MR. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
Attention: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx,
Congratulations, This mail is to inform you that your name is among
those United Nation is compensating for the time and money paid to
some officials in Africa with out receiving your fund. This
compensation must be paid withing 7 working days. You are advice to
reconfirm your home address and your direct mobile numbers to enable
us send you Certified Bank Draft to you. Your urgent reply is highly
needed.
Best Regards,
Mr. Steve Smith.
It is most definitely a SCAM! Thanks for sharing.
I am a victim of this scam. I lost!$1150.00.
Sorry to hear – always be vigilant!
Hello my name is Tanya i received some information about money that was mine to be claimed it is from unted nation helo commission he gave me a reference # and a ticket # his name is Henry Smith not sure about it at all he wants me to pay b4 i get the money from fedex
Yes, that’s a scam
Scam I think involving a fake Facebook account a guy has a contract fund (years salary ) held by in government for it to be transfer needs quiet a few thousand USD to get national and international codes unlocked to receive all monies
Yes, that sounds like a scam, too…
Just one question is this email address correct [redacted]
General Raymond Chandler want to send me money? I think is it fejk
Best Redgards
It is fake. As always, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
UN Headquarters
First Avenue at 46th Street,
New York, NY 10017.
USA.
Phone + 1-618-441-XXXX
E-mail: XXXX@un-offices.XXX
29/08/2017
ATTENTION : Mrs , XXX
Top of the day to you from United Nations Vacation Office , this is to inform you that we have received the payment that you made for your husband health / insurance .
We are glad to let you know that his vacation letter will be ready soon , but you have to be responsible for his flight ticket .
You are to pay 6,900 euro to enable us book a first class flight ticket for your husband . But if you want him to fly with a chartered flight you will then pay the sum of 22,192 euro . the choice is yours .
Thank you
Yours sincerely
OFFICER IN CHARGE OF VACATION
UNITED NATIONS VACATION OFFICE
Yep, definitely fake…
John William
Aug 9
to me
Dear Madam,
Thanks for the receipt of your message that you sent to us , we apologized for the late responds to your message due to the legal procedure of the transfer order here and the legal arrangement with our bank official delegates. we made all the legal necessary requirement known to your husband today that being the legal beneficiary to the approved funds that you will have to follow the legal procedure by sending us your full details like, Full name, home address, Tel-phone number or mobile, valid id card or passport, your bank account details and you will also obtain a copy of beneficiary certificate from our head office here to qualified you as the legal receiver or beneficiary to the said funds.
The funds will be transfer to your bank account through our nominated bank immediately the certificate is obtained and secured in your name from our high head office here and the cost for the certificate is $1,450usd and they gave us 4 working days to raise the amount for the certificate obtaining in your name and favor as the transferring process demand.
Please kindly responds to us immediately to acknowledge the receipt of our mail okay.
Best regards,
John William
John William
Sep 16 (1 day ago)
to me
Hello Madam,
The person in charge for the Obtainment of the VAT code has gone for seminar with the branch office of the bank in West Africa and also West Africa bank will in charge of the transfer because your husband have work there before. So I will seek the opinion of your husband if he will agree for will to obtain it from there, if he agreed I will let you know before the end of today okay.
Yes, that’s a scam. Please never send money!
I ran into this on FaceBook one person said that he had the best day ever, he had just received 85,000 from this program. I told him to tell me more he gave me the name and number of the contact person, and said that he will contact me if I qualify. So I did this guy called me had an accent told me to text him my full name and he would see if I qualify, he then text me asking for my information, and told me that I qualify. I then google them and came upon this site, after reading this I told no thanks ,and that I checked them out the first person That told me that he was not sure at first and he googled them as well and decided to go ahead and he was glad he did. I wished him the best told him. No thanks
Glad you avoided the scam. All the best!
Hello,
I have just received the following message from with “reply to” account
“I am emailing you on behalf of the United Nations Development Group. Find attached to this e-mail your notice of grant.
Sincerely,
Jordan Ryan”
The file attached is named “UN_UNDP Grant notification.pdf”
I did not open the file because I suspect it is a fake (carrying some virus/trojan?), since I have never applied for UNDP grants.
Can you confirm?
Thanks.
Yes, that’s a scam.
There is a scam about UNSDN jobs currently on! The job adverts and letters are crafted very well; it was when they started asking for money for a housing scheme that I got suspicious and started looking around till I got to this site. Thanks!
Please report all scams to the police!
Thanks for sharing!
A friend of mine was sent a message saying that since she was a victim of a scam she would be compensated six hundred thousand dollars($600000)
They told her that a card from the benchmark community bank would be sent to the nearest airport and she would have to go to collect it. They didnt ask for any money or social security number and they knew her name, phone number, and address. They even gave her a tracking number. I dont know if it was through the united mations but it said it was from undp so thats why im looking it up.
That’s clearly a huge SCAM. The UN and that includes all their sister agencies would NEVER go directly. They would ALWAYS(!) work with national authorities. I would say she should not waste her time and just cut all her loses… Knowing peoples personal data is not a huge effort any longer: ever since the latest hack of Equifax we should assume that any criminal in this world has all our data.
Hello, I am sharing the scam below so that people do not get trapped with it.
I receive dozens of emails like this in my professional inbox every week 🙁
Sender: United Nations
UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.
4th – 7th December, 2017.
@
International Exhibition & Convention Centre (IECC)-London, United Kingdom.
Dear Invitee, Nonprofit/NGO Colleague,
The 2017 United Nations International Conference on Sustainable on Development will take place from 4th – 7th December, 2017 at the International Exhibition & Convention Centre (IECC)-London, United Kingdom. On behalf of the organizing and scientific working committee, I am pleased to inform you that the United Nations General Assembly at its Coordination and management on 25 September, 2015 formally adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, along with a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 associated targets.
In accordance with this adoption, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs officially invites you to take part in the (4) four-day World Summit of Economists, Educationists, Administrators, Manufacturers, Researchers, Activist & Non-Governmental Organizations, Religious Leaders, Community Organizations, individuals from the Public and Private Sector from 4th – 7th December, 2017 in London, (United Kingdom) to establish an inclusive and transparent intergovernmental process on SDGs that is open to all stakeholders with a view to developing global sustainable development goals. Aimed at reconciling the economic and environmental goals of the global community, and initiate a needed dialogue on the transformation of the international financial architecture, taking into account different national realities, capacities and levels of development and respecting national policies and priorities.
The decision to hold the forum was made by UN General Assembly Resolution 64/236 (A/RES/64/236). It was intended to be a high-level summit, including heads of state and government or other representatives and resulting in a focused political document designed to shape global environmental policy.
Date: 4th – 7th December, 2017.
Venue: International Exhibition & Convention Centre (IECC)-London, United Kingdom.
Theme: Impact and implications of the global financial and economic crisis on sustainable development & climate change proposals for an integrated global response to the crisis.
Registration is “free” and strictly for invited individuals and organizations only. As an invitee, you have received a registration code UN/CSD/00838/2017 with the invitation letter, which grants you access to the registration form. The United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development will sponsor free travel costs and all-round flight ticket for all participant. Invited participants will only be responsible for their hotel accommodation and feeding cost at the Hotel Queen’s Gate. The International Exhibition & Convention Centre (IECC)-London, United Kingdom is the venue of this summit while the Hotel Queen’s Gate has been officially designated to accommodate all participant for this forum.
Participants will enjoy special luncheon shows, tourist attractions, including guided outdoor tour activities available in host city. Entry visa authorization letter will be given to all confirmed participants who require a visa into United Kingdom through the Visa4UK office.
For further details about registration form, visa, flight ticket and other details, write an acceptance letter to be part of this event and send directly to the UN Secretariat via e-mail: secretariat@[redacted].org
For more information call: +44(0)745-[redacted].
Feel free to share this information with colleagues, institutes or organizations.
Register Now!
Carl [redacted]
Communications and Public Relations,
[Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs].
Thank you very much for such important information. For the past five months i have been receiving same emails as reported here. Almost every content you guys have mention here i guess i have same mails in my inbox. In one of the mail it was stated that Mrs J. B. [name redacted], the formal president of Malawi need a kind help, whom she want to sent me a consignment worth 17.5 million USD, to be used for charity and less privileged people which they will deliver it at my door step if only i pay the trust security company a two month demurrage balance of 2,030 USD. I also mail them back what ever help she want from me i can do it but not for money because am a student and that Jesus Christ loves them so much and the love is deep. since then till date i have not hear from her or that sole call trust security company in BENI.
My people lets be watchful and not be too greedy about money.
God bless you so much!!
I have been corresponding with supposibly a UN peacekeeper who is requesting in order for him to get out of the war zone and get his Vacation fund I must pay the tax on the money! I guess I just need reassurance this is a scam because I have become quite fond of this person! Thank You!
It is a scam. Don’t fall for it. So sorry 🙁
I have also corresponding with supposibly UN Journalist based in Afganistan and he wants to get out of the war zone. This is the email address for the official filing of leave [EMAIL REMOVED]. They told that i have to sign some documents for the release of the said journalist and i have to appear to them in person in their office in Dubai since i cannot go there they said that UN attorney can sign in my behalf but I have to pay some amount in US$ in order for the release of leave letter.
This is a SCAM. Don’t fall for it!
This is also a scam
Hi Rottmair
I’m in South Africa . An old friend V. N. [name redacted] contacted me saying she was given $300 000 by the United Nations Award Grant . She says the FedEx delivery guy had my name on the winners list . She said on another occation she saw my name and photo on the facebook winners list . She’s frustrated that I wont contact the agent Mikey Haze so that I can claim my prize . She changed her story saying she’s from the United Nation Help Commission . I’ve confronted her , accusing her of criminal activety , and can you believe it , she’s simply more determined than ever to recruit me . Do you suppose she gets a cut for every client she ropes in ? I’m hurt , as I know her , and have done a lot for her .
Sorry to say, but yes, that’s also a SCAM. Sorry that you lost a friend to scammers and yes, it is a usual tactic, to pay commissions to get folks in. Some folks may have become victims themselves in the past and are promised the money they lost back if the recruit among their friends?
Hi I got a msg via Facebook from an Agent who claims to be working with the UN response fund and he said I qualified to receive a grant being mindful a friend via Facebook also said she received the grant. But now they’re asking me to send 350usd to receive the grant is this true will like to know.
It is a SCAM! The UN would never contact you out of the blue. The UN would never contact you via Facebook. The UN would never require you to pay for anything in order to receive something. Stay away and report the person.
One of my friends on Facebook was hacked and I was messaged by the hacker telling me that my friend received a grant of $X amount of money, I used a VOIP service to message the number, found out that the number was also the exact same service that my VOIP number was, this is where a flag was raised greatly as using a VOIP number isn’t professional, I received more information from the scammer and received a link as well, I don’t dare to click the provided link, instead I research United Nation Grant scam, which lead me to here.
Well done! Always good to avoid a scam. Thanks for sharing
I was just contacted via Instagram about the UN Grant Program. Says they received 100, 000.00. I researched and deleted the account. The scammer asked several times if I had completed the registration page. Total scam. Please don’t fall for it!
Thanks for sharing! Yes, don’t fall for the scam
Hi, I also got an sms and then email from Lara Jones regarding money that I have to claim from the United Nations Organization. I will copy the email. They said they will send a visa card to my adres and then they will pay the money into that account. Thwy just want my names and adress.
Thanks for you responds, United Nations and Imf is giving put this funds to some african counties as a compensation for investment, and it was a ballot draw that wa held in the Uk, and your number happened to be one of the lucky number, that was how you got the message from us,
Lara Jones
I also have an attachment that is stating that I can claim the money with the enblem.
Is this too good to be true?
It is a scam.
Dear Sebastian,
I have received a reply letter like this, see below. I just want to know if it is a scam as well. Thanks.
Attention: Miss.xx ,
Good day to you from The United Nations Vacation Office and we wish to inform you that we have received your email and have decided to reply you and also inform you on the conditions that has to be done so we can release the Vacation Letter of Doctor xxx on time .As you know he is a Medical Doctor in the Peacekeeping Mission and for that reason there are certain things that has to be done urgently so that he can be with you as soon as possible.
You know he is in a peacekeeping mission and for that reason there are certain things that has to be done by you and they are:
1. There has to be a payment for his life / health Insurance fees and as soon as this is done, his vacation letter will be granted and release as soon as possible because we have to insure his life in case anything go wrong in your country.
(A)Â $ 6,150 USDÂ for 90 working days vacation .
(B)Â $ 4,490 USDÂ Â for 60 working days vacation .
(C)Â $ 2,250 USDÂ for 30 working days vacation .
2. Kindly fill the attached form and send back to us as soon as possible after the payment has been made so we can process the vacation letter immediately.
3. A recent Identity proof has to be sent to us ( Drivers License , International Passport or National Identity Card )
Kindly do this as soon as possible so that we can finalize his vacation for him to be with you as soon as possible.upon your reply we shall provide you with the payment details for his life / health insurance before his vacation can be granted .
Yours sincerely
OFFICER IN CHARGE OF VACATION
UNITED NATIONS VACATION OFFICE
Yes, that’s a scam.
Night I was just contacted about an Empowerment Cash Granted found by UN. I did inquire and was send this ‘ This is a program specially placed for those who needs assistance in getting a house, paying bills, start up their own business, going to school, help raising their children, it’s also meant for the old widow/widower, retired people and disable, it’s an innovation set up by the UN Government to help improve the standard of living among the citizens around her Julie Charles’….. Sounded interesting as I’m a single mother I did ask for more info which I was send to “https://goo.gl/forms/XXXXXXX” I did full the form which basically asked for my name address, phone number, reason I think I should be qualify and how I need the money card or check. Or seems very legitimate. But then I realized few things didn’t same real, like the pictures were random pictures. I can’t believe I was gallible and trust and hope I didn’t give them too much info
Yes, that’s a SCAM
good I want to invite my friend who is in Kabul I have received a form and an address where to lodge a guarantee please tell me the procedure is correct
UNITED NATIONS MISSION AFGHANISTAN.
UNDP, UNOCA Complex, Jalalabad Road Kabul,
Afghanistan.
E-mail: info.XXXXXXX@XXXXX.com
14th March 2018
Attention: Angelica F.,
Madam, we are in receipt of your mail and acknowledging a copy of your ID and the filled form sent. This office expects a quick response from you on transferring the payment for the insurance. Please the details of payment are given below. Send us a proof of payment once it is done.
BANK DETAILS
MERCY AKANDE
IBAN: ES47 2085 7709 XXXX XXXX 1343
BIC DE LA ENTIDAD XXXXXX
BANK NAME: XXXXX
BANK ADDRESS: CALLE XXXXXX NO 16 XXXXX DE XXXXX XXXX SPAIN
Yes, that’s a massive scam, too.
UNITED NATIONS COMPENSATION UNIT, IN AFFILIATION WITH WORLD BANK.
Attention:
How are you today?
We have been holding meetings for the past 7 months which ended two days ago with the then secretary General to the UNITED NATIONS. This email is to all the people that have been scammed in any part of the world. The UNITED NATIONS have agreed to compensate them with the sum of US $1.5million each.
This includes ALL foreign contractors that may have not received their contract sum, and people that have had an unfinished transaction or international businesses that failed due to Governmental problems etc.
We found your name and email in our list and that is why we are contacting you, this have been agreed upon and have been signed.
You are advised to contact Mr. Eric W. [], of our paying centre in Benin Republic, as he is our representative in Republic Benin, contact him immediately for your cheque worth of USD$1.500,000.00. This funds are in Certified International Bank Draft for security purpose ok? So he will send it to you and you can cash it in our bank in your country. Therefore, you should send him your full Name and telephone number and occupation / work ID card and your correct receiver address where you want him to send the cheque to you.
Phone: [REMOVED]
Thanks and God bless you. Making the world a better place.
Regards,
P.R.O.
United Nations Organization
Yes, that’s a scam too.
I have gotten 2 (so far) text from people i actually know very well telling me they got $150,000.00 from the UNDP and giving me an agent contact info so i can get mine to. And then to contact them as soon as im done talking to this agent so i can let them know what came about. Now these 2 people are cousins of mine, not close cousins but close enough you know….so please tell me about this so i can know how to proceede. I get scam emails all the time from strangers all over the world and i ignore them but this is coming from family so do i believe them and contact this agent or trash it like all the others??? They sent me this info because i lost my husband (no insurance or anything) and im on S.S.I. disability. I had to get money from friends and family just to get my husband cremated (no funeral no burial) couldnt afford it so they know i am struggling very hard just to get through each day but i also hope that my own family would be truthful about something that could change my life so drastically. Im confused right now and really need clarification. Please help…..
Tell your family that their accounts were hacked. Often people distribute these scams without their knowledge. If they know of it, insist on keeping doing it, I recommend to cut the contact. Many victims are “forced” into being perpetrators to “get their lost money back”.
Would like to know if Carol Moore works for the UNDP Federal Government Grant? I need to know if this is a scam??
Do we pay taxes on the Grant monies requested??
This is a scam – don’t pay anything!
I have received from the UNDP that I am on a list to receive 150.000.00 grant. I have to buy $650.00 cards in order to get it. They sent me ticket , batch #’ s of my winnings. A friend did what they ask añd she said it was legitimate and bank said was real check. Is this a scam also ?
This is a SCAM. Do not send any money.