419 scam: "INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION/PRIZE AWARD DEPT." <wbmarketing@wb.com> (no subject)

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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:
- ",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)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a 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!
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.
- paulbenjamin474@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION/PRIZE AWARD DEPT." <wbmarketing@wb.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: paulbenjamin474@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2014 23:22:32 -0800
Subject:

INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION/PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
Greetings!!!

Sir/Madam, We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery
Winners International programs held on the 27th of December 2013. Your
e-mail address attached to ticket number CL2502014GL15 with serial
number 141-901217 drew lucky numbers 7-88-81-17-86-12 which
consequently won in the 3rd category, you have therefore been approved
for a sum pay out of US$1,460,000.00. (One Million, Four Hundred and
Sixty Thousand United States Dollars). CONGRATULATIONS!!!

All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn
from over 200,000,000 company and 300,000,000 individual email
addresses and names from all over the world. Due to mix up of some
numbers and names, we ask that you keep your winning information very
confidential till your claims has been processed and your funds
remitted to your choice bank account. This is part of our security
protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this
program by some participants.
To file for your claim, please contact your fiducial agent: Mr. Paul
Benjamin Email: paulbenjamin474@gmail.com Note that all winning must
be claimed not later than 28th of Febuary 2014.

Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications
please remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in
all correspondence. Furthermore, should there be any change of address
do inform our agent as soon as possible. Congratulations once more
from our members of staff and thank you for being part of our
promotional program.

Note: Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.

Sincerely yours,
Mrs. Elizbeth White
Lottery Coordinator

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam