419 scam: VISA 2010 ON-LINE PROMO <joao.felicio@unimontes.br> CONGRATULATION FROM VISA

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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 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.
- v2010pdesk@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: VISA 2010 ON-LINE PROMO <joao.felicio@unimontes.br>
Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 03:34:33 +0000
Subject: CONGRATULATION FROM VISA

Congratulation!

We happily announce to you that your e-mail address attached to WINNING CODE
V2010-G358FA came out as one of the winners of

our 2010, FIFA WORLD CUP PROMO which automatically confirm you the beneficiary
of the amount of FOUR HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-FIVE

THOUSAND POUNDS (£485,000.00).

History as recorded the first world-cup held in Africa a successful and
productive atmosphere of jubilee in the world. VISA

being a partner in the 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP, thereby give out this prizes to
individual as a bonus. No entry was made, e-mail

addresses used for the draw were provided to us by different web-host.

You have therefore been approved of the payment of FOUR HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-
FIVE THOUSAND POUNDS (£485,000.00).

For your payment, kindly contact the Payment Desk via e-mail
v2010pdesk@yahoo.com with your winning code V2010-G358FA and the
informations below to file for your payment;

Name (in full)_________
Sex;_______
Date of Birth (month/day/year)________
Address;____________
Contact Number;____________
Country of Residence;__________
Nationality;__________________
Occupation;_________________

In receipt of the above information, your payment will commence.

NOTE; You are advised to keep your winning notification/ code confidential till
you have been paid to avoid double claims and

impersonation. Any attempt of double claims or impersonation will result to a
forfeiture of your winning.

Congratulations

VISA 2010 ON-LINE PROMO

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam