419 scam: "=?BIG5?Q?You_won_=A2G1?=,000,000.00" <info@yahoo.com> LOTTERY RELEASED 1ST BATCH... OFFICIAL NOTICE!!!

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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:
- "million 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)
- "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.
- mrs.janejohnson@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "=?BIG5?Q?You_won_=A2G1?=,000,000.00" <info@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: mrs.janejohnson@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2009 14:16:45 +0800
Subject: LOTTERY RELEASED 1ST BATCH... OFFICIAL NOTICE!!!

COCA COLA COMPANY
STAMFORD BRIDGE LONDON.
SW1V 3DW UNITED KINGDOM

LOTTERY RELEASED 1ST BATCH... OFFICIAL NOTICE!!!

Compliment of the season.

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the just concluded annual final
draws held on the (30th June, 2009) by Coca-Cola in conjunction with the.
British American Tobacco Worldwide Promotion, your email was among the 20
Lucky winners who won ¢G1,000,000.00(ONE MILLION POUNDS) each on the THE COCA
\COLA COMPANY PROMOTION.

However the results were released on the 17th July, 2009 and your email was
attached to ticket number (CCWZ2009) and ballot number (BT:240420/09) The
online draws was conducted by a random selection of email addresses from an
exclusive list of 29,031 E-mail addresses of individuals and corporate bodies
picked by an advanced automated random computer search from the internet.

However, no tickets were sold but all email addresses were assigned to
different ticket numbers for representation and privacy. The selection
process was carried out through random selection in our computerized email
selection machine (TOPAZ) from a database of over 250,000 email addresses
drawn from all the continents of the world.

This Lottery is approved by the British Gaming Board and also Licensed by the
International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR).This lottery is the 3rd
of its kind and we intend to sensitize the public. In other to claim your
1,000,000.00(ONE MILLION POUNDS) prize winning, which has been deposited in
a designated bank. However,you will have to fill the form below and send it
to the Promotion manager of THE COCA COLA COMPANY for verification and then
you will be directed to the bank where a cheque of 1,000,000.00(ONE MILLION
POUNDS) has already been deposited in your favour.

CLAIMS FORMS
*Name of Beneficiary:-------------------
*Address:------------------------------
*City/State:----------------------------
*Nationality:---------------------------
*Country Of Residence:-------------------
*Sex:----------------------------------
*Email Address: -------------------------
*Tel: ----------------------------------
*Fax:----------------------------------
*Occupation:----------------------------
*Next of Kin:---------------------------
*Age: --------------------------------
*AMOUNT WON:-----------------------
*In Figures: -----------------------------

Please you are adviced to complete the form and send it immediately to our
Promotion manager through email for prompt collection of your fund from the
designated bank.

(CONTACT PROMOTION MANAGER)

Name: Agent Jane Johnson (Mrs)
(Senior remittance officer)
E MAIL:mrs.janejohnson@yahoo.com.hk

You are to keep all lotto information away from the general public especially
your ticket number and ballot number. (This is important as a case of double
claims will not be entertained).

*Staff of Coca-Cola and the British American Tobacco Company are not to
partake in this Lottery.

Accept my hearty congratulations once again!

Yours faithfully,
Management.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam