419 scam: <powerballinternational@computer4u.com> Congratulations You Have Won US$1,500,000.00 From Power Ball Lottery Internatio

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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:
- "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +27787898740 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
- +27865366756 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- richard_jackson25@rocketmail.com (Rocketmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: <powerballinternational@computer4u.com>
Reply-To: richard_jackson25@rocketmail.com
Date: Mon, 05 Nov 2012 11:11:41 -0500
Subject: Congratulations You Have Won US$1,500,000.00 From Power Ball Lottery International Programs!!!

170 Braxton Court Four Ways, East Gate, Johannesburg, South Africa Office Phone: +27-787-898-740.
Office Fax: +27-865-366-756.
REF: PWB /2324514325/2012 Batch: NGB /2012/SA
Attn: Sir/Madam,
This is to inform you that you have won $1, 500.000 (USD) on the Powerball Lottery, International programs. The
online cyber lotto draws was conducted from an exclusive list of 21,000 e-mail addresses, for the month of October
2012 Prize Promotion which was organized by Powerball International Sweepstake Lottery.
The online cyber lotto draws was conducted from an exclusive list of email addresses of the people that are active online,
among the millions that subscribed to other E-mail Providers. Seven people are selected this month to benefit from this
promotion and you are one of the Selected Winners. Winners shall be paid in accordance with his/her Settlement Center. Prize
Award must be claimed not later than 28 days from date of Draw Notification. Any Prize not claimed within this period will be
forfeited. Stated below are your identification numbers:
BATCH NUMBER: NGB /2012/SA. REFERENCE NUMBER: PWB /2324514325/2012. ACCESS CODE: 17021.
TICKET NUMBERS: 23, 24,5,14,3,25.
PLEASE CONTACT YOUR CLAIM AGENT THROUGH THE BELOW INFORMATION.
Name: Mr.richard jackson.
E-mail:richard_jackson25@rocketmail.com
Office Tel: +27-733-042-938.
Office Fax: +27-865-366-756.
You are advised to send the following informations to your agent to facilitate the release of your winning fund to you.
1. FULL NAMES:
2. FULL ADDRESS:
3. TELEPHONE / FAX NUMBER:
4. YOUR BATCH NO:
5. YOUR REFERENCE NO:
6) YOUR TICKET NO:
7. MARITAL STATUS:
8. OCCUPATION:
9. DATE OF BIRTH:
10. GENDER:
11. PRIVATE EMAIL:
Congratulations!! Once Again.
Yours in service,
Mrs. Alexandra Jefferson.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyrights 2010 Gidani (Pty) Ltd, Private Bag X130, Halfway House, Midrand, 1985 Tel: 0100840916.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam