419 scam: "MRS SARAH YIN"<sarah@asia.com> HELLO! YOU ARE AMONG THE SELECTED WINNERS

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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")
- ",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)
- "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.
- frankxiang2000@163.com (163; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "MRS SARAH YIN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <frankxiang2000@163.com>
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:27:11 +0200
Subject: HELLO! YOU ARE AMONG THE SELECTED WINNERS

Prize Redemption
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Dear Winner,

Congratulations, This is to inform you that your email address have won US$800,000,00 for the ongoing 2012 ASIA LOTTERY PROMOTIONS which was organized by ASIA FORTUNE LOTTO CHINA.

As part of our promotional draws,participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 2,500,000 email addresses of individuals and companies from all parts of the world as part of our electronic business Promotions Program.

You/your company email address,attached to ticket number 230-365-3071,with serial number 710-43 drew the lucky numbers 8, 5, 6, 24, 19, 34 and Bonus number 51 and consequently you won in the second category of the ASIA FORTUNE LOTTO DRAW.

Your Winning Ticket Number. 230-365-3071
Your Serial Number. 710-43
Your lucky draw Numbers are. 8, 5, 6, 24, 19, 34 Bonus Number 51
Your INSURANCE Number: FLD718/470D/GMSA

You have therefore been approved for the payment of the sum of US$800,000,00 in cash, which is the winning amount for the Second category winners. This is from the total prize money of US$3,450,000.00 shared among the international winners in the Second category. CONGRATULATIONS!

Please be informed that your CHEQUE of the sum of US$800,000.00 is now with the BEIJING CONSUMER FINANCE COMPANY insured with your email address which won you this prize, therefore you should contact (BEIJING CONSUMER FINANCE COMPANY) your agent and give them your full names so that they will re-insure your CHEQUE under your full names.

To begin your claim, please contact your claims agent immediately.

FRANK XIANG
FOREIGN SERVICES MANAGER,
BEIJING CONSUMER FINANCE COMPANY
frankxiang2000@163.com

(1) YOUR FULL NAME:
(2) HOME / BUSINESS ADDRESS:
(3) PHONE NUMBER:
(4) AGE AND SEX:
(5) OCCUPATION:
(7) COUNTRY:
(8) IDENTIFICATION:

Congratulations! once again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our promotions program.

Sincerely,
MRS SARAH YIN
VICE PRESIDENT INT.PROMOTIONS

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam