419 scam: UK GAMBLING COMMISSION <info@mail.org> Ref:ZA/144132/1211

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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)
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.
- +447045708253 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- +448704719707 (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.
- ukgames_service10@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: UK GAMBLING COMMISSION <info@mail.org>
Reply-To: ukgames_service10@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:35:25 +0530
Subject: Ref:ZA/144132/1211

UK GAMBLING COMMISSION
Victoria Square House
Birmingham B2 4BP

Attention: The Email Account Holder!
Congratulations!
Ref:ZA/144132/1211
Batch: 22/523009/LHINT

RE/ AWARD NOTIFICATION

We wish to inform you of the lottery draws held on the 1st of February
2010 to declare the winners of the UK GAMBLING COMMISSION. This lottery
scheme was created to bring awareness to the world, being that United
Kingdom is hosting the next Olympics in 2012.

Yourself, attached to Ticket number 356-00098-3211-222, with Serial
number 818-09 drew the lucky numbers 67-99-777963, and consequently won
the lottery through a computer ballot system and your email address was
gotten through United Kingdom Information Network Online(U.K.I.N.O) which
is affiliated with the internet.

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out in cash credited
to file REF NO: .This is from total prize money of £20,000,000.00(Twenty
Million Pounds Sterling) shared among the Five international winners in
this category.

All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn
from 17,000 names from Australia, New Zealand, North America, South
America, Europe and Middle East and Asia as part of our International
Promotions Program, which is conducted monthly.

To begin your claim process, please contact your claims manager with
details below and also provide him with the requested information so that
he can Expedite the processing of your claims.

FUND RELEASE VERIFICATION FORM:

NAME:
==========================
COUNTRY:
==========================
ADDRESS:
==========================
CITY:
==========================
STATE/PROV:
==========================
ZIP/POSTAL/CODE:
==========================
CELL PHONE:
==========================
FAX NUMBER
==========================
OCCUPATION:
==========================
COMPANY:
==========================
MARITAL STATUS:
==========================
Gender:
==========================
AGE:
==========================
EMAIL:
==========================
REFERENCE NUMBER:
==========================
BATCH NUMBER:
==========================

Rev. Tom Jones
Tower 42, 25th Floor
25 Old Broad Street London
EC2N 1HQ.
Claims Verification Department.

Tel: +4470457 08253
Fax: +44 870 471 9707
E-mail: ukgames_service10@yahoo.com.hk

To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please quote your
reference/batch numbers to any correspondences with us or our designated
agent.

Congratulations once more from all members and staffs of this program.

Thank You for being part of our promotional lottery program.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam