419 scam: "Mrs. Akira Itsuki" CONGRATULATIONS!!!

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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:
- "million united state 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)
- ",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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
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.
- leekane20@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Akira Itsuki" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <leekane20@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sun, 18 Jul 2010 00:18:49 +0700
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!!

YAHOO INTERNET LOTTERY RESULTS 2010
CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Yahoo!! International Lottery Organization
Bangkok Branch Office
Address: 109\219 Moon 8, Bang-Khun-Tien Road,
Bangkok 19160 Thailand.

Yahoo! Mail announces you as one of the 25 lucky winners in the ongoing 12
Years Yahoo lottery Award of the New Year Held on 10th the April 2010.

All 25 winning email addresses were randomly selected from a batch of
50,000,000 international emails each from Canada, Australia, United States,
Asia, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Oceania as part of our international
promotions program which is conducted annually, consequently, you have been
approved for a total pay out of ONE MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS ( $1, 000.
000.00USD)

This Lottery was promoted and sponsored by a conglomerate of some
multinational companies as part of their social responsibility to the citizens in
the communities where they have operational base.
Further more your details(e-mail address) falls within our Bangkok
representative office in Bangkok Thailand, as indicated in your play coupon and
your prize of ( $1, 000.000.00USD) will be released to you from this regional
branch office in Bangkok Thailand.

Your fund is now deposited with our Bank/Security Company Bangkok Thailand
and insured in your name. Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask
that you keep this award from public notice until your claim has been
processed, and your winning Cheque have being sent to you or remitted to your
account, as this is part of our security protocol, to avoid double claiming
and unwarranted taking of advantage of this program by participants, as has
happened in the past.
HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE
These are your identification numbers.
Ticket number.....................085-12876077-09
Serial number.......................51390-0
Lucky number...................03-05-12-14-28-38
Ref number...................N.EGS/3662367114/13

To begin your lottery claims, Please contact our Yahoo Lottery Co-ordinator
as follows,

Email:leekane20@yahoo.co.jp
Name: Kane Lee

You are to send the completed verification form below to the co-ordinator
whose email address is given above so that you will be advised on what to do
to get your prize money. Congratulations once more!!

1. FULL NAME
2. COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
3. PRESENT ADRESS.
4. DATE OF BIRTH
5. OCCUPATION
6. TELEPHONE NUMBER
7. SEX
8. FAX NUMBER
9. MARITAL STATUS
10. WINNING NUMBER, BATCH NUMBER AND LOTTO NUMBER.

Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than july 30th
2010.Any claim not made by this date will be returned to HER MAJESTYS DEPARTMENT
OF THE TREASURY. And also be informed that 10% of your lottery winning
belongs to (THE PROMOTIONS COMPANY). Because they are the company that bought
your ticket and played the lottery in your name.

Note also that this 10% will be remitted after you have received your
winnings prize, because the money is insured in your name already.

NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please
remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in all correspondences with
us, Furthermore, should there be any change of address, please do inform our
coordinator as soon as possible. Yahoo lottery is a free service that does
not require you to be a Yahoo! Registered user.

An original copy of your lucky winning ticket and your deposit certificate
will be sent to you by Administrative Remittance Operation Manager of Siam
City Bank Bangkok Thailand.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Once again from all members of our staff and thank you
for being a part of our International Promotions program.

We wish you continued good fortunes.

Yours Sincerely,

Dr. Donaldson Chou
Vice President
Yahoo! Lotto Org.

Mrs. Akira Itsuki
Online Coordinator .
2010The Yahoo-Thailand Internet Promotions.
All rights reserved. Terms of Service - Guidelines

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam