419 scam: "Mrs.Catthy Brown" <mrs.brown65@sbcglobal.net> CONGRATULATIONS (YOU HAVE WON 800,000 GBP) CONTACT YOUR CLAIMS AGENT

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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:
- ",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)
- "revjamesroland@live.co.uk" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
- revjamesroland@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs.Catthy Brown" <mrs.brown65@sbcglobal.net>
Reply-To: revjamesroland@live.co.uk
Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:03:03 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS (YOU HAVE WON 800,000 GBP) CONTACT YOUR CLAIMS AGENT

International Draw Auditors & Management,
Co-ordinators Lottery Headquarter,
31, Brixon Court, Carlton East Gate,
South Africa

Ref.:PEC/9030108308/07.
Batch: 15/76/EF36.
Serial No: SALP97585.
Ticket No: B665 75608567.
Security code: ZA/183/RR
Â
ATTN: Winner;
Â
CONGRATULATIONS
Â
We wish to congratulate you on yourÂ winning in our Worldwide Business, Trade Journals, Web-Site and personal Email addresses through Computer Super Draw System which was randomly selected from over 2,000,000 (Two Million) VALID individual Emails, Names and Addresses as listed from their various Country's all over the world by E-LOTTERY South Africa and United Kingdom in promoting the 2010 FIFA World Cup which is to be held in South Africa.
Â
This is a millennium scientific computer game in which email addresses were used to encourage football lovers.
Â
It is proudly sponsored by E-LOTTERY UNITED KINGDOM, MICROSOFT & FIFA SUPPORT TEAM (AFRICA)
Â
Your Name and Ref. File Number has therefore been approved to claim a Total Sum ofÂ Â 800,000 ( Eight hundred thousand United Kingdom Pounds).This was shared among 20 lucky winners from a total of 16,000,000 United Kingdom Pounds Sterling and you are among the 1st Category Worldwide 2009 LUCKY WINNERS.

PRIZE CLAIM INSTRUCTIONS
Contact our Accredited/Authorized Representatives to file your claim, The contact details are given below,
Â
United Kingdom Fiducial AgentÂ® Claim Office
Â
CONTACT
Rev Father James Roland
revjamesroland@live.co.uk
revjamesroland@yahoo.com
Â
In order to avoid unnecessary delays, You are required to contact the appointed agent with the following informationâ€™s for formal verification and confirmation.
Â
PLEASE SEND A COPY OF YOUR CONTACT INFORMATIONS TO BOTH EMAIL.
Â
REF NUMBER
SERIAL NUMBER
TICKET NUMBER
SECURITY CODE
Â
For Security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information CONFIDENTIAL till your claims are processed and your money remitted to your account.Please call if your mail was not responded to within 24 hours.
Â
Once again congratulations!!!
Â
Sincerely,
Mrs. Brown Cathy
(General Secretary)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam