419 scam: "YAGO LOTTO."<info@yago.org> Congrats you have won

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "hundred thousand us dollars" (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.
- +2217744884691 (Senegal, probably a 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.
- dukeita@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "YAGO LOTTO." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dukeita@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 06:05:01 +0100
Subject: Congrats you have won

NOTE THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS SPECIAL SEASON..

We are pleased to inform you, that as a result of our RECENT LOTTERY DRAWS HELD Your Email address attached to ticket number:022-75769983-03 with serial number:61240-0 drew lucky numbers:04-14-96-87-45 which consequently won in the 5th category.Congratulations as you have been chosen for our NEW YEAR lucky winner for the year 2009. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum of (TWO MILLION TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS ONLY) in cash credited to file with REF:EGS/3662367114/13.Your fund will be delivered to your home address by our well known diplomat.

For security purpose and clarity we advise that you keep your winning information confidential before your claims will be processed and delivered to you. You are also advised to provide your claims agent with the under listed information as soon as possible,send it to his email address below. Kindly make sure you send all replies to this box.

CLAIMS AGENT: Douala Keita.
EMAIL:dukeita@hotmail.com
TEL: +221-774488469
1. Name in full
2. Address
3. Nationality
4. Age
5. Occupation
6. Phone/Fax

CALL HIM AND EMAIL HIM IMMEDIATELY WITH HIS ABOVE EMAIL ADDRESS,When you contact him, please provide him with your secret BATCH NO,SERIAL NO.All winnings must be redeemed not later than 7 days After the date of this notice. and if calling from the USA you should dial in this form 011-221-774488469.

Congratulations!!! once more and thank you for being part of our promotional awards.Bear in mind that 10% of your fund will be going to the lottery organization that played the lottery with peoples name and email addresses that should be after you must have received the fund,the 10% would have been given to them, just because the fund has been insured and will not be removed till you receive the funds.

Sincerely,
MR.MIKE WILLIAMS
VICE PRESIDENT
YAGO LOTTO.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam