I sometimes publish emails for scams and fraud that I get, noting the variety and new twisted ways of fooling people. For example, there is the winning a fake lottery, internet classified, craiglist, and usenet scams, and the classic Nigeria 419 advance fee fraud.A few days ago, I got an email from someone asking for help about the lottery. The email was so vague and written in broken English. Upon checking the IP address of the sender, along with his name, it turned out that he is from Egypt. So to make matters easier, I asked for details in Arabic.After a few emails were exchanged, here is what happened:
- That person got an email saying that he won the lottery.
- He contacted the sender, who pretended to be an official with the lottery, who handed them over to someone pretending to be from an alleged Johannesburg, South Africa bank (FNB), and is the manager of transfers.
- Some papers were sent, with the bank logo and stamp on it. The poor fellow checked the bank somehow and found that indeed there is a bank by that name and address in South Africa.
- The bank person said that an account was opened in South Africa for the victim, and that the money was transferred to it. The fake account was sent to the victim.
- The bank person then asked for advance fees for certain certificates (proof that this money is rightfully his from the South Africa government), as well as non-resident bank account opening fee.
- He sent $750 to South Africa.
- The bank person is asking for more money for more documents, such as letter with power of attorney, US dollar certificate, ...etc. so that the government allows the transfer.
- The bank person also offered to pay part of the fees, after the victim complained that he does not have enough money.
So, there you have it: the typical advanced fee fraud. These crooks rely on the ease of communicating with people in other countries and being immune from persecution by the law enforcment in that country. They also rely on human greed (how can one win a lottery if they did not buy a ticket?), as well as gullibility. Sad, but sobering ...
Comments
Anonymous (not verified)
Fraud mails
Thu, 2014/08/07 - 02:39Dear all,
Never ever give any response to this kind of messages. They are all fraud and they just take advantage of us.
Helo (not verified)
I received the Oxford one so, I don't want £, My currency's € !
Sat, 2007/11/10 - 03:56Oxford International Lottery
32 Hurst Street
Birmingham, B5 4TB
United Kingdom
Ref: OXS/812/07/OE
Batch: 322056Q/OE
Dear Award Beneficiary
We are delighted to inform you of your prize release on the 3rd November 2007 from the Oxford International Lottery programme.
You hereby have been approved a lump sum of £1, 000, 000, 00. GBP in cash credit to file ref ILP/HW 475/07, all participant were selected through a computer balloting system drawn from Nine hundred thousand E-mail addresses all over the World as part of our international promotions program which is conducted quarterly.
Kindly note that you will only be chosen to receive the award once, which means that subsequent yearly award will not get to you again. Take time and thought in spending the funds wisely on a project that will stand the test of time.
HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE,
Simply contact our fiduciary agent, Dr. Martin Jean, at
Email: oxford.helpline@hotmail.com
Tel: +44 704 5710 656
Fax: +44 870 479 8995
CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION.
You are advised to contact your fiduciary agent with the following details to avoid unnecessary delays and complications. Your Name (in Full), Telephone Number, Country, Batch Number, Reference Number as indicated in this winning Notification.
Thank you for being part of our commemorative 50th Anniversary Draws.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Carol Gabriel.
Oxford Sweepstakes Co-ordinator.
Anonymous (not verified)
I got an email with this
Tue, 2008/05/27 - 03:36I got an email with this person's same name and phone number contact, except i had won the Swiss Lottery!!
Swiss Online Lottery
Corporate Headquarters,
United Kingdom
We are delighted to inform you of your prize release on the 26th May
2008 from the Swiss Online Lottery programme.
You hereby have been approved a lump sum of £1,000,000,00. GBP, all
participant were selected through a computer balloting system drawn
from Nine hundred thousand E-mail addresses all over the World as
part of our international promotions program which is conducted
quarterly.
Kindly note that you will only be chosen to receive the award once,
which means that subsequent yearly award will not get to you again.
Take time and thought in spending the funds wisely on a project that
will s tand the test of time.
You are advised to contact your fiduciary agent with the following
details to avoid unnecessary delays and complications.
Your Name (In Full):
Telephone Number:
Address:
Sex:
Age:
Occupation:
Country:
HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE,
Simply contact our fiduciary agent, Dr. Kent Russell at
Email: swisshelpline447@hotmail.com
Tel: +44 704 5710 656
Web Site: www.swisslotto.ch
On behalf of the Board kindly, accept our warmest congratulations.
Mrs. Carol Gabriel
(Online Announcer).
elsayed ghamry (not verified)
i want help to take my prize
Sun, 2008/01/06 - 01:07i want help to take my prize
ABDUL GHAFOOR (not verified)
wiinning prize money.
Fri, 2008/02/22 - 23:43Dear Sir
I have request you please confirm this WINNING PRIZE AND HELP ME THAT I CAN GET THE FUND AND I GIVE YOU CONTINGENT FEE.
EURO MILLIONS INTERNATIONAL
175 WOODHILL ROAD, BULKYARD,
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
THE AWARD DEPARTMENT.
Dear ABDUL GHAFOOR YOUSOFZAI.,
This is to formerly notify you that after the verification process
conducted , I wish to inform you that the Administrative department
and promotions department has just approved your payment of the tune
of £1.5million Ponunds and the said sum is now deposited in our
suspence account in your favour with ANZ BANKING GROUP UK LTD.
So in the light of the above explanation, I wish to inform you that
you are to immediately contact ANZ BANKING GROUP.
following the details below for your £1.5million Pounds
ANZ BANKING GROUP UK LTD.
London. United Kingdom
E-mail:anz_banking_groupltd50@yahoo.co.uk
calling hrs: 7am - 5 pm Daily Monday - Friday
Tell:+447045717254
Contact Person: MR.RICHARD CLIFF
Congratulations once more.
Yours faithfully,
EURO MILLIONS INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY
Remember to keep your winning information confidential in order to
avoid impersonation and double claim. BE WARNED!!!
ABDUL GHAFOOR (not verified)
wiinning prize money.
Fri, 2008/02/22 - 23:52Dear Sir.
I have kindly requet you PLEASE HELP ME THAT I CAN TO GET THE WINNING PRIZE THEN I GIVE YOU CONTINGENT FEE.
"UBA Bank"
To: "Ghafoor yousofzai"
Subject: AWAITING YOUR OPTION CHOOSE FOR FUNDS REMITTANCE..
Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2008 20:43:46 +0000
UNITED BANK OF AFRICA (U.B.A)
Head Office:1 Churchill Place,
London E14 5HP. United Kingdom
Regulated by the Financial
Services Authority
Tel: +44 704 573 6057
+44 704 575 3522
website: www.ubagroup.com
Fund Release Notification
RE: ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Dear Esteemed Customer (ABDUL GHAFOOR_YOUSOFZAI),
You are welcome to UBA Bank Plc, LONDON.The payment Bank for Yahoo/Msn Lottery Incorporation. We are pleased to be at your service. We are Regulated and Stipulated by the Financial Service Authority (FSA), the financial institutions that govern all financial activities in the United Kingdom.
After receiving confirmation from the YAHOO/MSN LOTTERY Board that you are one of the promo winners, we are presenting you with the following options with which you would like to receive your winning check of £500,000.00 (Five hundred thousand pounds sterling) in our possession. You are to make your preferred and affordable choice from the two options listed below for us to remit your certified check to you.
OPTION (1)
BANK TO BANK TRANSFER: This is the Direct Bank Transfer that will enable you receive your money in any account that you will provide for this Bank to effect the transfer as it is always done electronically and it will take 2 working days to reflect in the account information that you are required to provide as outlined below.
ABDUL GHAFOOR (not verified)
wiinning prize money.
Sat, 2008/02/23 - 00:21Daer sir.
IHAVE KINDLY REQUEST YOU HELP FOR FOLLOWING WINNING PRIZE WHEN I CAN GET I HAVE GIVE YOU
CONTINGENT FEE.
Fri, 22 Feb 2008 15:52:22 -0800 (GMT-08:00)
From: "British Online Lottery 2008."
Yahoo! DomainKeys has confirmed that this message was sent by earthlink.net. Learn more
Subject: Ref: Uk/9420X2/26...........DEAR WINNER!!!
Dear Winner,
You are a winner of the UK National lottery online program that was
held on the 22TH February 2008. You have been approved to claim a sum of
£500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Great British Pounds) of cash
credited to file KTU/9023118308/03.To file for your claims you are to contact
our
claims agent
Mr.Gary Woodgate
Email:gary.uknl001@hotmail.com
Provide him with the following information to claim your prize.
Full Name: Address: Phone Number:
Country of residence: Sex: Age:Amount Won:
Yours faithfully,
Online Co-ordinator for U.K NATIONAL LOTTERY
Sweepstakes International Program.
aftab (not verified)
i got a letter sayin that i have won austrilian lottery prize
Mon, 2008/02/25 - 13:39the bank said like this(when i send them my lience xerox).In regards to your winners application form you submitted. You have indicated that you wish your transfer in the form of Cheque Transfe.To this effect, you are required to provide the following documents sworn from the Federal High Court here in Nigeria which would legally empower us to release the fund to you.
a. An affidavit of claim document.
b. A letter of authorization from the Federal High Court
Therefore if you cannot be physically present here in Nigeria to endorse the fund release order (fro), you are advised to send the total sum of $1,780 for the affidavit stamp duty and letter of authorization.
You are further instructed to send the payment through our account officer via Western Union Money Transfer with details below, to depose the affidavit on your behalf.
Receiver's Name: Mr. Ogidi Rowland
Address: Lagos, Nigeria
Text Question: What Colour?
Text Answer: White?
Amount Expected: $1,780 Dollars
this is what the bank has said to me.
Anonymous (not verified)
same thing happen tome
Tue, 2008/06/17 - 02:11hi,watever u said abt lottery winning and da person name mr ogidi and thing they told were same as they told me..is there any thing we can do to catch thm...i dont mean goin abroad ... any complain so tht no other person will be in trouble in future ,,wats say
Anonymous (not verified)
SCAM
Wed, 2008/04/02 - 13:07HERE IS THE VERSION OF SCAM THAT I'VE RECEIVED:
POKER ONLINE PROMOTION
(LOTTERY)
FROM THE DESK OF THE CO-ORDINATOR,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT
We are pleased to inform you of the announcement made on 1St of March 2008 about winners of the POKER ONLINE PROMOTION PROGRAMS, as part of our promotional draws. Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 500,000 email addresses of individuals and companies from all part of the world as part of our electronic online business Promotions Program.
Note that your email address qualified for the draw, as a result of your visiting various Websites. We are running the online e-business promotions program and your email address was attached to TICKET NO: 326 83 86701 7 43 42, SERIAL NO: 005243/07 and LUCKY NO: 6-58-42-61-12 POP 19 consequently you have won in the Second Category.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay of US$1,450,000.00, which is the winning payout for Second category winners. This is from the total prize money of US$10,150,000.00 shared among the seven international winners in the Second category.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Please be informed that your (PRIZE) US$1,450,000.00 is now with Zenith Capital Management SA insured with your email address that won this prize (lottery), therefore you should contact (ZENITH CAPITAL MANAGEMENT SA) your agent and give them your full names so that they will re-insure your CHEQUE under your full names.
PLEASE CONTACT YOUR CLAIM AGENT FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE PAYMENT;
ENGR. ALLAN FOSTER
PHONE NO. +27 76 784 2299.
EMAIL: alclaimsagency@hotmail.com
(ZENITH CAPITAL MANAGEMENT SA)
PRIZE AWARD NOTIFICATION
ZENITH CAPITAL MANAGEMENT SA
13 SKIN BOULEVARD, BEDFORDVIEW, 0103
P.O. BOX 1401 BEDFORDVIEW.
JOHANNESBURG
SOUTH AFRICA.
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers and other information provided above and below in every one of your correspondences with your claims agent.
TICKET NO: 326 83 86701 7 43 42
SERIAL NO: 005243/08
LUCKY NO: 6-58-42-61-12 POP 19
Please fill in the information below for verification purpose and send it to your claim agent through email address: alclaimsagency@hotmail.com
1. NAME IN FULL:-------------------------------------------------
2. ADDRESS:------------------------------------------------------
3. COUNTRY-------------------------------------------------------
4. TICKET NO.:---------------------------------------------------
5. SERIAL NO.:---------------------------------------------------
6. LUCKY NO.:----------------------------------------------------
7. AGE:----------------------------------------------------------
8. SEX:----------------------------------------------------------
9. OCCUPATION:---------------------------------------------------
10. TELEPHONE/FAX:-----------------------------------------------
Congratulations'' once again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our promotions program.
Sincerely,
MRS. WINNIE WILLIAMS
(CO-ORDINATOR)
POKER ONLINE PROMOTIONS
672 Poker House Off Commissional Road
Eastern Cape 2190
South Africa.
POKER ONLINE PROMOTIONS (LOTTERY) GOES INTERNATIONAL AS THE 2010 WORLD CUP WILL BE HOSTED BY SOUTH AFRICA .
THIS PROGRAM IS SPONSURED BY: SOUTH AFRICAN LOTTERY AUTHORITY AND SUPPORTED BY: (F餩ration Internationale de Football Association) FIFA SUPPORT
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