419 scam: "Skype Promotion Awards, USA"<bnbnbnbnbnbnb@att.net> SKYPE PROMOTION AWARDS NOTIFICATION!!!!!

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
1. They don't notify winners by email.
2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
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.
- ronaldboschsaa@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Skype Promotion Awards, USA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ronaldboschsaa@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 09:30:47 +0100
Subject: SKYPE PROMOTION AWARDS NOTIFICATION!!!!!

Skype Promotion Awards
>From The Desk of the Promotion Manager

Reference Number: 1037231LL
Award Notification

Attn Winner:

This is to inform you that you have won a prize money of One Million, Two Hundred Thousand Dollars Only (US$1,200,000.00) for the Month Of September, 2010 lottery promotion which was organized by SKYPE AWARDS. Skype collects all the email addresses of companies and individuals that are active online, among the millions that subscribed to various websites. Six people are selected monthly to benefit from this lottery promotion and you are one of the Selected Winners.

Winners shall choose from one of the payment options stated below:

A] Bank Wire Transfer
For this option, winners must provide the below stated information:
(1) Bank Full Name:
(2) Bank Full Address (including State and Country)
(3) Bank Telephone Number
(4) Bank Account Number
(5) Name of Owner of Account
(6) Swift Code

B] International Certified Cheque
For this option, winners must provide the below stated information:
(1) Your Full Name
(2) Your Complete Mailing Address
(3) A Scanned Copy of your I.D (OPTIONAL)

All funds must be claimed no later than 14 days from date of Draw Notification. Any prize not claimed within this period will be forfeited. Below you will find a Processing Form, requesting your required Particulars. Please provide all requested information to help process your claim.

SKYPE ONLINE PROCESSING FORM:

REFERENCE NUMBER:
FULL NAMES:
ADDRESS:
CITY:
STATE:
ZIP:
PHONE;
COUNTRY:
SEX:
AGE:
MARITAL STATUS:
OCCUPATION:
E-MAIL ADDRESS:
NATIONALITY:
PAYMENT OPTION: [A]/[B].

Forms should be returned to your claims/Processing agent to below:

Name: Mr. Ronald Bosch
Tel/fax number: +1 206-222-2140
Contact E-mail: ronaldboschsaa@gmail.com

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Yours in service
Patricia Elsworth
(Promotion Manager)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WARNING!
This Notification MUST remain confidential until your fund is successfully handed over to you to avoid disqualification that may arise from double claim. You may also receive similar e-mails from people portraying our image. This is solely to collect your personal information from you and lay claim over your winning. In the event you receive any e-mail similar to this notification letter we have emailed you, kindly delete it from your mail box and make no further correspondence to such person or body. Skype shall not be held responsible for any loss of fund arising from the above mentioned.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam