419 scam: Google Corporation <vinomarlini@imr.gov.my> 2011 HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

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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:
- "corporateoffice@gala.net" (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: Google Corporation <vinomarlini@imr.gov.my>
Reply-To: "corporateoffice@gala.net" <corporateoffice@gala.net>
Date: Fri, 29 Apr 2011 12:19:50 +0800 (MYT)
Subject: 2011 HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Google Corporation
1600 Amphitheater Parkway
Mountain View, CA 94043
United States.

GOOGLE 2011 HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

On the 4th of September 1998, Google was incorporated as a privately held company. Google Corporation is one company that earns its profit mainly from advertising using their very own Google search engine, www.google.org, Google AdWords, Gmail, Gala, Sify, e-mail service Google Maps, Google Apps, Orkut social networking and YouTube video sharing, which are all offered to the public for free online. Google.org has committed over One Hundred Million USD in grants to non-profits and investments in companies with breakthrough technologies.

We wish to congratulate you once again, for being selected as a major customer in the ongoing Google 2011 Happy Anniversary. These Funds is a give away price from Google Promotion Board to our esteemed customer that are using Google Product and promoting Google Online. Hence we do believe with your prize, you will continue to be active in your patronage to Google.

A Bank Draft will be issued in your name by Google Promotion Board worth {Eight Hundred and Forty Thousand Great British Pounds} as a give away price and a certificate as a major customer from Google.

CONTACT:
Google Promotion Board (UK)
Email: corporateoffice@gala.net

Do e-mail the Promotion Board office at once with the Verification and Funds release form below for validation of your prize. You are also advised to contact the Promotion Board with the following details (Ref NO: GP/48-46GC/Q, Batch: GC046GP) and to avoid unnecessary delay.

VERIFICATION AND FUNDS RELEASE FORM

.Residential Address:
.Tel (Mobile):
.Nationality/Country:
.Full Name:
.Age/Sex:
.Occupation/Position:
.What is your comment on Google?

Note: This is an Anniversary not a Lottery. Google is not into Lottery, PLEASE BE WARNED.

For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims are processed and your money remitted to you. This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements. Please be warned.

Congratulations from the Staffs & Members of Google Promotion Board.

Dr Larry Page
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
Â©2011 Google Corporation Powered by Google

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam