419 scam: "Wendy B. Winds"<bwwinds@worldvision.org> You've Won 1.500,000.00 Million EURO

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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:
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "claims director" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- ",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 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.
- +4407045701397

Fraud email example:

From: "Wendy B. Winds" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <agent.owen.austin@mediaport.ua>
Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 15:43:44 +0100
Subject: You've Won 1.500,000.00 Million EURO

WORLD VISION
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM
Opal Drive, Fox Milne
Milton Keynes. MK15 0ZR
United Kingdom.
Lucky No:- MG4U85108
Registered Charity No. 285908
Ref. No: ESM/WIN/008/05/10/BF
Batch No: UK/EUGR/2907/444/908/08.

AWARD NOTIFICATION FOR CATEGORY "A" ONLY

ATTENTION: LUCKY WINNER!

This is to inform you that you have emerged winner of €1, 500, 000.00 (0ne Million Five Hundred Thousand EUR) in the WORLD VISION Micro-Project Award Draws.

WORLD VISION Micro-Project award draw is to be held annually and it is established with the objective of uplifting Poverty Alleviation, Charity Aid and living standards of Five Hundred thousand computer literate individuals; therefore, WORLD VISION Micro-Project is giving out £100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million Euros Only) as specific Donations/Grants to 150 lucky international recipients worldwide in different categories; this individuals and corporate bodies were picked by an advanced automated random computer selection from the web.

You have been approved to claim a total sum of €1, 500, 000.00 (0ne Million Five Hundred Thousand EUR). To begin your claim, you are required to contact our claims agent with below stated contact details and email the under listed information to him.

Contact Person:
Owen Austin.
Email: ( agent.owen.austin@mediaport.ua )
World Vision Claims Director.
Tel: +44(0)704-570-1397.

WINNING CLAIMS REQUIREMENTS:

1: Lucky Number? ..................
2: Full Name (First, Middle and Last Name).
3: A scanned copy of any of the below listed proof of Identification such as
(A) National Identity Card
(B) Drivers License
(C) International Passport.
4: Your Addresses, such as
(A) Current Residence?..............
(B) Office Address?.................
(C) POSTAL/ZIP CODES?...............

5: Telephone Numbers, Such as
(A) House Phone? ...................
(B) Mobile Phone? ..................
(C) Fax Number? ....................
6: Individual Status, such as
(A) Occupation/Obtained Rank? ..................
(B) Sex? ..................
(C) Age? ..................
(D) Religion? ..............

We anticipate urgent Cooperation.
Regards
Prof. Wendy B. Winds
COORDINATOR WORLD VISION.
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam