419 scam: "Helen Smith Ms."<noreply@megamillions.com> PRIZE AWARD WINNING-

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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:
- "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "million american 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
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.
- marvinheinri@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Helen Smith Ms." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <khdel268@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2023 23:44:49 +0100
Subject: PRIZE AWARD WINNING-

AMERICAN MEGA MILLIONS LOTTERY.
17740 Preston RD, Dallas, Texas 75252.

Attention,

CONGRATULATIONS: YOU WON $2,500,000.00.

We are pleased to inform you of the result of American Mega Millions Lottery, which was held earlier this month. Your e-mail address attached to e-ticket number: 25-64-46-74-11 (03-07), with Prize Number (match 8): 0073627169 drew a prize of $2,500,000.00. (Two Million Five Hundred Thousand, American Dollars Only) This lucky draw came first in the 4th Category of the Sweepstake.

You will receive the sum of $2,500,000.00 from our authorized bank. Because of some mix-up with sweepstake prizes, including the limited time placed on the payment of your prize of $2,500,000.00 we advice that you keep all information about this prize confidential until your winning prize of $2,500,000.00. (Two Million Five Hundred Thousand, American Dollars Only) have been transferred to you by the authorized paying bank. You must adhere to this instruction, strictly, to avoid any delay with the release of your winning to you in person. This program has been abused severally in past, so we are doing our best to forestall further occurrence of false claims.

This sweepstake was conducted under the watchful eyes of 8,000 spectators. Your e-mail address attached to e-ticket number: 25-64-46-74-11 (03-07), was selected and; it came out first by an electronic-ballot draw from over 250,000 e-mail addresses (personal and corporate e-mail addresses). This program is sponsored by CFI to compensate faithful internet suffers around the globe. Congratulations for becoming one of the few lucky winners.

With your permission, your e-mail will also be included in the next sweepstake of 200 Million American Dollars. You must claim your prize:$2,500,000.00. Not later than 7-days from the moment you receive this e-mail. In order to avoid unnecessary delays with your claim from the bank; please contact your claims officer below, and quote your winning and personal information now, and in all your correspondence with the claims officer. Here is the contact information:

Claims Manager:

Name: Heinrich Marvin
E-mail: marvinheinri@yahoo.com
Lottery Claims Manager

Furnish them with the following:

VERIFICATION FORM:

1.) FULL NAME:
2.) AGE:
3.) SEX:
4.) ADDRESS:
5.) MOBILE/WHATSAPP NO:
6.) PASSPORT ID NO:
7.) COUNTRY:
8.) OCCUPATION:
9.) EMAIL:
10.) Receiving Bank Account No:

(Including amount won and how you intend to r eceive the amount you won).

Failure to provide the above details might result to the disqualification of your winning so kindly adhere to the simple instructions

Congratulations.

Yours Faithfully

Helen Smith (Ms.) CPA.
Coordinator: American Mega Millions Lottery.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam