419 scam: "National Geographic Society" <prizeclaim@nationalgeographic.com> Email Ref No: NGS/699/33/2011

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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:
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "million united states 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)
- "hundred thousand great british pounds" (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)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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 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.
- +447045725845 (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.
- jeffwright00@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "National Geographic Society" <prizeclaim@nationalgeographic.com>
Reply-To: JEFFWRIGT00@AOL.COM
Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2011 16:13:22 +0100
Subject: Email Ref No: NGS/699/33/2011

SHEPHERDS BUILDINGS EAST,
RICHMOND WAY - LONDON
W14 0DQ - UNITED KINGDOM

Winning No: NGS/877/798/2011
Email Ref No: NGS/699/33/2011
Notification Date: 16/02/2011

This notification email is to inform you that you have won the sum of
500,000.00GBP {Five Hundred Thousand Great British Pounds} in this year
edition which is organized by the National Geographic International,
UNITED KINGDOM.

HOW YOU WON
We collect email addresses of people that are active online, among the
Billions that are subscribed to email addresses worldwide, such as, AOL,
Hotmail, Optusnet, Bigpond, Yahoo, Gmail, Google and including private
domain users and also being a Microsoft user, your email qualify you in
entering the draw. Ten email addresses are been selected in every quarter
of the year through an electronic balloting system without the winners
applying or purchasing ticket for this draw.

The National Geographic International Lucky draw is proudly sponsored by
The Royal Family, Microsoft Corporation©, the Intel Group©, Toshiba©, Dell
computers©, Mackintosh© and a conglomeration of other international IT
companies. We are proud to say that over $200,000.000.00 (Two Hundred
Million United States Dollars) are won annually in more than 150 countries
worldwide.

PAYMENT OF PRIZE AND CLAIM
You are to contact your Claims Agent with immediate effect to facilitate
the protocol of your winning prize before the date of Claim, Winners Shall
be paid in accordance with his/her location. Prize must be claimed not
later than 15 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. To begin your claim please contact our licensed and accredited
agent assigned to you.

[VERIFICATION DEPARTMENT MANAGER]
Name: Mr. Jeffery Wright
Email : jeffwright00@aol.com
Phone : +44 704 572 5845

Do email the above Claims Administrator, with the claims requirements
below. To avoid unnecessary delay, they are needed to proceed.

Full Names: ____________________________________________
Sex: __________________________________________________
Date of Birth: __________________________________________
Marital Status: _________________________________________
Occupation: ___________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________
City: _________________________________________________
Country Of Residence: ___________________________________
Nationality: ____________________________________________
Telephone Number(s): ___________________________________
Fax: __________________________________________________

MODE OF PAYMENT
(i) Bank Transfer
(ii) Delivery of Cheque of 500,000.00GBP by a registered courier company.

Note: National Geographic International Lottery prize must be claim not
later than 15 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.

Congratulations! Congratulations!! Congratulations!!!

Sincerely,
Maurice Van Sabben,
National Geographic Corporation. All rights reserved 2010

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam