419 scam: "customerservice@yahoo.googlemail.org"<arthur_spencer@officer.com> Microsoft, Yahoo and Google Lottery Promotion.

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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:
- "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "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)
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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447024047708 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
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.
- arthurspencer006@hotmail.co.uk (Hotmail, United Kingdom; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "customerservice@yahoo.googlemail.org" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <arthurspencer006@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:08:46 +0100
Subject: Microsoft, Yahoo and Google Lottery Promotion.

MICROSOFT YAHOO GOOGLE LOTTERY PROMOTION North London Business Park (NLBP) Oakleigh Road South, London, N11 1NP United Kingdom. Dear Lucky Winner, We happily announce to you the result of the Microsoft, Yahoo and Google Lottery draws held on Saturday 1st of August 2009, Lotto 6/49 in Essex, United Kingdom. All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web site through computer draws system and extracted from over 100,000.00 companies and personal e-mail addresses. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: B9564 7560 with serial number 046560 drew the winning numbers 6 7 14 16 17 27 Bonus 32. You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of ?550,000.00 (FIVE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND POUNDS STERLING) in cash credited to file EAAL/9080118308/08. To file for your claim, please contact your corresponding Fiduciary Claim Agent (Mr. Arthur Spencer) urgent release of your fund. Contact information is as follow: Mr. Arthur Spencer Email: arthurspencer006@hotmail.co.uk Tel: +447024047708 Endeavour to submit the below information’s as stated below to enable Mr. Arthur Spencer process your winning. 1. Full Name: 2. Full Address: 3. Marital Statue: 4. Age: 5. Sex: 6. Nationality: 7. Tel. Number: - 8. Country of Residence. ***Due to possible mix up of some numbers and email contacts, we ask that you keep this award strictly from public notice until your claim has been processed and your money remitted. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unscrupulous acts by some participants of this program. *** Congratulations once more from all members and staff of this Lottery program. Yours Sincerely, Microsoft, Yahoo and Google Lottery Promotion **Customer Service**

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam