419 scam: "YAHOO ASIA LOTTO GROUP."<lucy@winhap.com> Congratulations on your winnings.

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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:
- "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.
- asialotteryagent@yahoo.com.cn (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "YAHOO ASIA LOTTO GROUP." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <asialotteryagent@yahoo.com.cn>
Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 00:56:28 +0800
Subject: Congratulations on your winnings.

Dear Internet User

Your email address has won you US$4,600,000 from the Yahoo Asia lottery promotions.
Your email address has won you US$4,600,000 from the Yahoo-Asia: (Japan, Hong Kong, China, Malaysia & Thailand) free ticket email and online lottery promotions. Your winnings number is: YJP/YHK/YMY/YCN-44100. You can receive this US$4,600,000 either by cheque or ATM card.
If you choose cheque payment, your name and winnings amount of US$4,600,000 will be on the cheque. If you choose ATM card payment, your name and winnings amount of US$4,600,000 will be on the card and the card's four digit pin code will be given to you. Send us your name, country and address for courier delivery OR mailing/postage of your cheque or ATM card.
WHAT YOU MIGHT NEED TO KNOW ON ATM CARD MEANS OF RECEIVING YOUR US$4,600,000 WINNINGS PRIZE.
-- You can receive the ATM card either by delivery or Mail/Post.
-- Courier delivery fee of the ATM card is US$220 and arrival time is 3 days.
-- The fee for courier delivery includes administrative cost making total of US$220
-- Mail/Post fee is US$90 and arrival time is 14 days or a little less.
-- Maximum of US$10,000 per day can be withdrawn from the ATM card.
-- You will have the right to withdraw the entire US$4,600,000 in the ATM card within the first 10 days after you have received it.
-- After you have cashed the complete US$4,600,000 in the ATM card, the card becomes INVALID and INACTIVE.
WHAT YOU MIGHT NEED TO KNOW ON cheque MEANS OF RECEIVING YOUR US$4,600,000 WINNINGS PRIZE.
-- You can receive the cheque either by delivery or Mail/Post.
-- Courier delivery fee of the cheque is US$125 and arrival time is 3 days.
-- The fee for courier delivery includes administrative cost making total of US$220
-- Mail/Post fee is US$90 and arrival time is 14 days or a little less.
-- You can cash the complete US$4,600,000 cheque within 3-4 days after you have deposited it with your bank.
-- You will need a bank account with any bank of your choice in order to deposit and cash the cheque.
This US$4,600,000 is total winnings fund payable to you after Tax. This means that you will not have to make tax payment of any kind before or after receiving the US$4,600,000.
Reply to: asialotteryagent@yahoo.com.cn
Congratulations on your winnings.
Yours Faithfully,
Mr. Yamato Lee.
Information Sector,
YAHOO ASIA LOTTO GROUP.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam