419 scam: "Google Incorporation" <b.hookson@gmail.com> GOOGLE OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION LETTER.

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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.
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:
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "google_onlinesweepstakes@careceo.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
- b.hookson@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Google Incorporation" <b.hookson@gmail.com>
Reply-To: google_onlinesweepstakes@careceo.com
Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2014 23:28:16 +0100
Subject: GOOGLE OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION LETTER.

Google UK Ltd
Belgrave House
76 Buckingham Palace Road
London SW1W 9TQ
United Kingdom.

Winning No: GUK/537/447/2014
Ticket No: GUK/289/57/2014

GOOGLE OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION LETTER.

It is obvious that this notification will come to you as a surprise but
please find time to read it carefully as we congratulate you over your
success in the following official publication of results of the E-mail
Electronic Online Sweepstakes Organized by Google, in conjunction with the
foundation for the Promotion of Software Products, (F.P.S.) held on March
24th 2014 here in London UK.Google earns its profit mainly from
advertising using their very own Google search engine, Gmail , Gala ,
Google Maps, Google Apps, Orkut social networking and You Tube video
sharing, which are all offered to the public for free.

We wish to congratulate you once again, for being among the Twelve (12)
selected winners in the ongoing E-mail Electronic Online Sweepstakes.
Hence we do believe with your prize, you will continue to be active in
your patronage to Google and its Products. A Bank Draft of £450,000.00 GBP
{Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Great British Pounds} will be issued in
your name by our Foreign Payment Bureau and also a certificate of prize
claim will be sent alongside your Bank Draft.

You are advised to contact our Foreign Payment Bureau with the following
details below for the Processing of your Claims:

FOREIGN PAYMENT RELEASE FORM.
(1) Your Contact Address:
(2) Your Contact Telephone/Mobile Number:
(3) Your Nationality/Country:
(4)Your Full Names:
(5) Occupation:
(6) Age/Gender:
(7) Marital Status:
(8) Private Email Address:
(9) Ever Won An Online Lottery?
(10) How Do You Feel As A Winner?

Mode of Price Remittance.
(1) Bank To Bank Wire Transfer.

(2) Courier Delivery Of your Certified Winning Cheque in your Name and other
Winning Documents safely to you.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
Contact our Foreign Payment Bureau officer below: Brain Hookson
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer with the E-mail accounts
as follows:Email:google_onlinesweepstakes@careceo.com
Alternative Email: b.hookson@gmail.com
…………………………………………………………………………………………………

NOTE!!! For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning
information confidential till your claims are processed and your money
remitted to you. This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double
claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous
elements. Please be WARNED!!!!

Congratulations from the Staffs & Members of Google Board Commission.

MD Matt Brittin,
Chairman of the Board and Managing Director, Google United Kingdom.
©2014 Google Corporation.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam