419 scam: BBC LOTTERY <info@bbcmobile.co.uk> Winnings

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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 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)
- ",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)
- ",500,000" (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.
- 00447035960866

Fraud email example:

From: BBC LOTTERY <info@bbcmobile.co.uk>
Reply-To: infoprom@bbcmobile.co.cc
Date: Sat, 23 Jul 2011 18:06:06 +0200
Subject: Winnings

Vodafone Corporation.
Baird House, The Connection,
RG14 2FN Newbury
West Berkshire
United Kingdom

THE VODAFONE 30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION PROMO.

Registered in England and Ireland No. 3821204

The Vodafone Corporation was founded as the result of a merger of
entities, Vodafone Corporation founded by William Green, and
communication network, founded by David F. peterson.

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the just concluded 2011
draws of Vodafone 30th Anniversary promo.Vodafone world draws was
conducted on-line by an automated random computer ballot search from
the Internet. No tickets were sold.

This program is organized by the Vodafone Telecommunication Company,
endorsed by the European Promo guild in conjunction with NGO
organizations in Switzerland.

Vodafone 30th Anniverssary Promo was conducted from an exclusive list
of e-mail addresses of individual and corporate bodies. The selection
process was carried out through random selection in our computerized
email selection machine from a database of over 2,500,000 email
addresses drawn from all the continents of the world. Emails were
provided by the entire register domain.

After this automated online poll, your e-mail address attached to
bonus ball number (29) drew the lucky numbers (1) (23) (40) (64) (0)
(11) (62), which consequently emerged you as one of first ten (10)
lucky winners in the United Kingdom Bulletin.

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay off of
£1,000,000.00(One Million British Pounds) in cash credited to File
VF/211/RN101.

This is from a total cash prize of £20 Million British Pounds to be
shared amongst the Twenty (20) lucky winners as promo program to mark
The Vodafone Company 30 year’s anniversary.

Please note that your File Number falls within our British booklet
category. In view of this, you are a winner in United Kingdom category
and our affiliate bank in the Europe would release your
1,000,000.00(One Million British Pounds) to you in United Kingdom.

To claim your prize funds, you are required to send the necessary
information to our helpline below: Name---- Country---- Address---
Occupation--- Lucky number--- Ball number---

Helpline Service
Mr. William .G. Hebert
Information and Payment Bureau:
London Representative Office.
Help Service Contact
Tel: 0044-703-596-0866
Tel: 0044-702-408-5616
Tel : 0044-703-597-0142
Fax: 0044-870-974-4065
E-mail: vodafone-programunitedkingdom@admin.in.th

Congratulation on behalf of members and staff of this board thank you.

Mrs. Grace Leena
Promotions Manager
Vodafone Anniversary
Promo Board Office

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam