419 scam: "YAHOO /MSN LOTTERY" <client@selena.net.ua> YAHOO /MSN LOTTERY

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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "yahoo/msn lottery inc" (no such lottery exists)
- "yahoo/msn lottery" (no such lottery exists)
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "greater london" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
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.
- +447011146830 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
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.
- mr_wesleyscholes_lotteryagent@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "YAHOO /MSN LOTTERY" <client@selena.net.ua>
Reply-To: mr_wesleyscholes_lotteryagent@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2009 02:01:43 +0300
Subject: YAHOO /MSN LOTTERY

Yahoo/Msn Lottery
Incoperation
Baley House, Har Road
Sutton, Greater London
SM1 4te
United Kingdom.

YAHOO /MSN LOTTERY WINNING NOTIFICATION

We happily announce to you the draw of the Yahoo Lottery Intl Inc
programs held on the 3th of September 2009 in London. Your e-mail address
attached to ticket number: 56475600545 188 with Serial number 5388/02
drew the lucky numbers: 31-6- 2613357, which subsequently won you the
lottery in the 2nd category. You are therefore, been approved to claim a total
sum of 5,000.000,00 pounds GREAT BRITAIN STELLING for the month of September
2009 lottery win promotion which is organized by MSN & YAHOO LOTTORY
INTL INC.Every month.Your winning fall in Europe! Please note that your
lucky winning numberfalls within our European booklet representative office
in United Kingdom as indicated in your coupon.

In view ofthis, your 5,000.000,00poundsGREAT BRITAIN STELLING would be
released to you by any of our paymentoffices in UnitedKingdom. Our
agent zoned for European paying Bank will immediately commence the process
to facilitate the release ofyour funds as soon as you
contact himYAHOO/MSN, collects all the E MAIL ID of the peoplethat
subscribes to yahoomail,msn, hotmail, aol,altavista,and othersonline,
among the billions that subscribe to us only five
people will be merge for winnings we only select five people every
Month as our winners through electronicballoting System without the winner
applying,we are congratulating you for having been one of the lucky
people that won for this month.

PAYMENT OF PRIZE AND CLAIM
You are to contact your Claims Agent on or before your date of Claim,
Winners shall be paid in accordance with his/her Settlement
Centre.

YahooLottery Prize must be claimed not later than 7 days from date of
Draw Notification after the Draw date in which Prize has won. Any prize not
claimed within this period will be forfeited and retrieved.

CLAIMS PROCESSING FORM
First Name:
Last Name:
Sex:
Office/Resident:
Address:
Telephone:
Mobile:
Fax:
Occupation:
Date of Birth:
Nationality:
Country:
Winner's E-mail:
Annual Income:

Best Regard
MR.WESLEY SCHOLES
Online Claims Agent

To file for your claim send identification and details of claim
to:OverseaPayment and Release Order Department CLAIMS PROCESSING
LOTTERY AGENT With a scanned copy of your international passport or drivers
license for official record and payment files.

(CONTACT EVENTS MANAGER)
Name MR.VICENT SCHOLES
Email mr_wesleyscholes_lotteryagent@yahoo.com.hk
Phone:+447011146830

Anti-fraud resources:

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