419 scam: "ftir whu.edu.cn (ftir)" <ftir@whu.edu.cn> CONGRATULATIONS YOUR E-MAIL JUST WON!!!

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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "claims office" (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.
- +447035983537 (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.
- sirblaircooper@hotmail.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: sirblaircooper@hotmail.co.uk
Date: Sat, 09 Jan 2010 01:19:27 +0100
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS YOUR E-MAIL JUST WON!!!

The British National Lottery
P O Box 1010
3b Olympic Way, Sefton Business Park,
Aintree, Liverpool , L30 1RD
(Customer Services)

Ref no: UK/9420X/68
Batch no: 074/05/ZY369
Ticket number:56475600545 188
Lucky Numbers: 05,06,17,20,28,42(Bonus33)

We wish to congratulate and inform you on the selection of cash prize
£1000,000.00 (British Pounds) held on the 8th January 2010 in London
Uk. The selection process was carried out through random selection via
Our computerized email selection system (ess) from a database of over
250,000 email addresses drawn from which your email was selected. And
Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 56475600545 188 with
Serial number 5368/02 drew the lucky numbers: 05, 06, 17, 20, 28, 42
(Bonus 33), which subsequently won you the lottery in the 1st category
i.e match 5 plus bonus. You have therefore been approved to claim a
total sum of £1,000,000 Great British Pounds Sterling, in cash
credited to fileKTU/ 9023118308/03. For due processing of your winning
claim, Please contact the FIDUCIARY AGENT Information Officer Sir.
Blair Cooper who has been assigned to assist you. Endeavour to quote
your Reference and Batch numbers.

Fiduciary Agent: Sir.Blair Cooper
Tel:+44 703 598 3537
Email: sirblaircooper@hotmail.co.uk

Fill the following requirements below:

1.Name in full----------------------
2.Address---------------------------
3.Nationality-----------------------
4.Age-------------------------------
5.Occupation------------------------
6.Sex ------------------------------
7.Phone/Fax-------------------------
8.Present Country-------------------

If you do not contact your claims agent within 5 working days of this
notification, your winnings would be revoked. Winners are advised to
keep their winning details/information from the public to avoid
Fraudulent claim (IMPORTANT) pending the prize claim by Winner.
*Winner under the age of 18 are automatically disqualified. *Staff of
the British Lottery are not to partake in this Lottery.Accept my
hearty Congratulations once again!
Regards

Mrs. Stella Ellis
(Group Coordinator)

Note that you are not to reply to this E-mail,please contact your
claims officer directly to start the processing of your claims
application form.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam