419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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.
The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "industrial and commercial bank of china" (not involved with lotteries)
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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)
- ",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)
- "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.
- vilam1977@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- the application letter of claim to the paying bank Đến: vilam1977@yahoo.com ngày: thứ hai, 8 tháng 8, 2011, 0:20 dear winner we (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: nguyen lam <vilam1977@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 8 Aug 2011 18:35:25 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: =?utf-8?B?Q2h1eeG7g24gdGnhur9wOiBLSU5ETFkgRk9SV0FSRCBUSEUgQVBQTElDQVRJ?=
=?utf-8?B?T04gTEVUVEVSIE9GIENMQUlNIFRPIFRIRSBQQVlJTkcgQkFOSw==?=

--- NgÃ y Thá»© 2, 8/08/11, Coca Cola Asia Pacific Promotions <cocacoladepartment02@live.com> Ä‘Ã£ viáº¿t:

Tá»«: Coca Cola Asia Pacific Promotions <cocacoladepartment02@live.com>
Chá»§ Ä‘á»: KINDLY FORWARD THE APPLICATION LETTER OF CLAIM TO THE PAYING BANK
Äáº¿n: vilam1977@yahoo.com
NgÃ y: Thá»© Hai, 8 thÃ¡ng 8, 2011, 0:20

Dear Winner

Â

We are pleased to inform you that you have been officially cleared
for payment by the verifications Dept. At the headquarters of the
COCA-COLA COMPANY INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY ORGANIZATION. We have received
your information and due processing have begun.

Â

You can now
forward the Application Letter of claim below together with the attached
winning certificate Â to the Paying Bank below. They are the assigned
Issuance Bank contracted with the responsibility of issuing and
delivering of all winners International Bankers Draft.

Â

Yours Sincerely,

Mr Kanueng Chatteh

Coordinator. COCA-COLA INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY ORGANIZATION.

Â

Â

KINDLY FORWARD THE APPLICATION LETTER OF CLAIM TO THE PAYING BANK

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â ////////////////////////////// ////////////////////////////// ////////

Â

Â

INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL BANK OF CHINA (ICBC )

BANGKOK THAILAND BRANCH.

17th Floor Boonpong Bldg.,1193 Phaholyothin Road,

Phayathai,Bangkok 10400

Tel: + (66) 892175898Â Â Â Â Â Â

Phone (+66) 823382061Â Â Â Â Â Â

Fax: + (66) 2231-174

Email: info.icbc_bank@yahoo.co.th

Â

Officer In charge: Dr. Somchai Sakulsrimontris,

Â

APPLICATION LETTER OF CLAIM OF COCA-COLA ASIAN PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY ORGANIZATION PRIZE / AWARD.

REF: N.EG/3662367114/13.

Â

Dear Sir,

Â

I wish to apply for the claim of the COCA-COLA ASIA PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY ORGANIZATION PRIZE / AWARD payment.

Â

My
email / name was attached to ticket number 085-12876077-09 with serial
number 51390-0 that drew the lucky numbers of 03-06-08-10-12-16-27,
which consequently won the lottery in the 5th category.

Â

I was
directed by the Lottery Organization Coordinator Rev. Nikom Jirasak that
you are the Authorized Issuance Bank Contracted with issuance and
delivery of my winners International Bankers Draft to the tune of $
1,000,000.00 (One Million United States Dollars) Only.

Â

In this aspect, Please I humbly request that you should process and prepare my prize Draft / Cheque as soon as possible.

Â

I look forward to hearing from you to enable me respond accordingly.

Â

Yours faithfully,

Â

From NGUYEN VAN VI LAM

nguyen lam <vilam1977@yahoo.com> wrote:

Full name : NGUYEN VAN VI
LAM
Address : 25 PHAN BOI CHAU K1 P2 SA
DEC-DONG THAP
Nationality : VIETNAM
Age : 34 YEAR OLD
Sex : MALE
Marital StatuS : SINGLE
Occupation : TECHNOLOGY
COMPUTER
Telephone Home / Mobile :
84909054329
E-mail address :
vilam1977@yahoo.com

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