419 scam: "Mikel Black" <info@lotto.org> CONGRATULATION

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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:
- "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- ",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)
- "mikelblack@yahoo.cn" (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!

Fraud email example:

From: "Mikel Black" <info@lotto.org> (may be fake)
Reply-To: mikelblack@yahoo.cn
Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:53:36 -0000 (GMT)
Subject: CONGRATULATION

Dear Lucky Winner,

Internet lottery

The Free Lotto Organisation

UK ( United Kingdom )

Reference number A206-35-707

Ticket numbers 390-15-54-35

We are glad to inform you that your E-mail address appears as the
confirmed Winner of our last email lottery program held on the 30th of Jan
2011 .

Your e-mail address attached to Reference number A206-35-707, lucky
numbers 390-15-54-35, which consequently won in the 2nd category, you have
therefore been approved for a lump sum payment of EUR 2,500.000.00 euros.
[Two Million, five hundred thousand euros only]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

This promotional program takes place every year. All participants were
selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over 200,000
companies and 50,000,000 individual email addresses and names from all
over the world.

In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications please remember to
quote your reference number and lucky numbers in all correspondence. We
ask that you should keep your winning information confidential until your
claim has been processed and your money remitted to you. To file for your
claim or for further
details please contact our agent and forward the required details asked
for from the form below via a plain text message:

***********************************************************

Contact Details for claim release process

Name: Mikel Black

Email: mikelblack@yahoo.cn
****************************

In respect of our commitment towards helping the less privilege, we ask
that you voluntarily contribute 1% of your Global winnings to any charity
organization you desire at your convenience.

NOTE: All winning must be claimed not later than 1St Quarter of this
fiscal year 2011.

Congratulations once more from our members of staff and thank you for
being part of our promotional program.

This email and its attachments are confidential and may contain legally
privileged information. You should not disclose the contents to any other
person. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender
immediately and delete this email from your system.

FREE LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPT.

Please fill and forward the form below via a plain text message in order
to have your claim process for release.

FORM

Internet lottery

The Free Lotto Organisation

UK ( United Kingdom )

LOTTERY PAYMENT APPLICATION FORM

(To be completed by lottery winners only)

Ticket Number: …………………………………………………………………

Reference Number: …………………………………………………………………

Full Name: ……………………………………………………………………………

Home Address: ……………………………………………………………………

Country: …………………………………………………………………

Telephone (Home)/ Mobile : ………………………………………………

Fax (Private or Office): …………………………………………………………………

Email Address: ………………………………………………………………

Year of Birth: ………………………………………………………………………

Occupation: …………………………………………………………………………

Marital Status: ………………………………………………………………………

I.............................………hereby declare that the above information
are
true and binding on me. If at any time it is discovered that I have given
false
information, I will forfeit my rights to my winnings.

Yours Sincerely,

Mr John Mark

(Lottery Coordinator)

IMPORTANT NOTICE.

Please be informed that NON RESIDENTS of Ireland and United Kingdom will
be required to procure a Sworn Affidavits of Lotto Claim/Court clearance
certificate from the Court in Ireland prior to award payment policy of
Organizers/European Gaming Board as required by the Clearance office.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam