419 scam: "Youngblood, Doris" <dyoungblood@alasu.edu> Cash Bonus***Reply to: bentelliot09@realtyagent.com***

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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 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.
- xmasbonus@europe.com (Outblaze.com, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Wed, 15 Dec 2010 11:25:01 -0600
Subject: Cash Bonus***Reply to: bentelliot09@realtyagent.com***

The National Lottery
P.O.Box 1010
Liverpool, L70 1NL
UNITED KINGDOM

Ref: UK/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369

THE UK NATIONAL SWEEPSTAKE 2010/2011

Attn: Winner.

You have won the sum of £1,181,670 GBP from the UK NATIONAL XMAS BONANZA,
from the just concluded British Lottery November Promotions 2010/2011.

Winning Bonus Numbers: 14 30 31 36 44 47 26

Lotto draw 1547

Draw date: Wednesday 20th November 2010.

Contact Person.
Mr. Bent Elliot
Email: xmasbonus@europe.com

Requirements:

1. Name:
2. Address:
3. Age:
4. Sex:
5. Occupation:
6. Telephone Number:
7. Country of Residence:

Congratulations from me and members of staff of THE UNITED KINGDOM
NATIONAL LOTTERY.Our winners are assured of the utmost standards of
confidentiality, and press anonymity until the end of proceedings, and
beyond where they so desire. Be further advised to maintain the strictest
level of confidentiality until the end of proceedings to circumvent
problems associated with fraudulent claims. This is part of our
precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of
this program.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Yours faithfully,
Mrs. Youngblood, Doris
Online coordinator for THE UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL LOTTERY Sweepstakes
International Program.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam