419 scam: SONY LOTTERY <Kazuo_hirai@yahoo.com> DEAR FRIEND

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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.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million united state dollars" (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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
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.
- +447040907440 (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.
- fullerton@writeme.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: SONY LOTTERY <Kazuo_hirai@yahoo.com>
Date:
Subject: DEAR FRIEND

Sony Corporation,
Kromadit Bldg.,
New Petchaburi road,
Bang Kapi, Bangkok,
10200,Royal Kingdom Of Thailand.
Congratulations!!!
We write to officially inform you that your email address has been selected as one of the lucky winners in the second batch of the on-going National Lottery Life Changing Award Promo as organized by the Asia regional branch office, Khanna Yao 10230, Thailand. Your lucky number is CT155. Therefore, you have been awarded the sum of One Million United State Dollars ($1,000.000.00) only. The 2015 National lottery Promo e-mail Award is no doubt, a momentous achievement in the chequered history of this Corporation.
Note: Lucky winners do not have to purchase a ticket to participate in this lottery program,The selection process was carried out through random selection in Our computerized email selection system(Ess) from a database of over 5000 addresses drawn from this month SONY MAKE BELIEVE raffles draw in Canada, Australia, United State, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East regions. which your email was selected as one of the 10 lucky winners.
Kindly forward below details to our funds claim department for (VERIFICATION)
====================================================================
Lottery funds claim department,
Payment Officer to contact: Tim Fullerton LLB
E-mail: TIM FULLERTON@writeme.com
Tel:+44-7040-907-440
+44-7040-906-379
---------------------------------------
(1) Your Full Names:
(2) Telephone number:
(3) Your Nationality:
(4) Your contact Address:
(5) Occupation:
(6) Have you ever won a lottery before?:
====================================================================
As soon as we confirm your above details here in our office you will be instructed on how to claim your prize.
We await your urgent reply detailing the above details.
On behalf of Sony lottery Board kindly accept our warmest congratulations.
Yours faithfully,
Kazuo Hirai
Chairman, CEO and President
Sony Corporation Thailand

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam