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)
Fake Lottery
Tue, 2007/03/20 - 00:03I have the same winning paper,It was mailed to me from Madrid Spain.I won 615,810.00 Euros.American's work hard for their money.Don't give it to these a****o's. Get a (REAL JOB)you THEIF. GOD BLESS AMERICA
Paulie (not verified)
Hey all, I just got a
Tue, 2008/06/03 - 11:02Hey all, I just got a winning paper from someone in Spain too, It said that I won 1.2 million Dollars in the (Euro Millions) Dollars in the Euro Millions?? Does this person think I am thick?? Trying to rob me is one insult! Insulting my intelligence is another! I dont know which is worse!!
Anuraag (not verified)
Lottery
Sat, 2009/06/06 - 05:40Me too recd the same mail from UK, stating that I have 100 K GSP, in advance they r asking for Rs.10,000/-, will someone tell me ,if i should go for it or not??
Noha (not verified)
Well, I wouldn't have
Tue, 2007/04/24 - 17:07Well, I wouldn't have thought it ever worked. I mean it never occured to me that people do send money to the scammers really but I always thought that the scammers would draw your money out of you by some fraudulent transaction or some such thing. I once replied out of spite asking them if anybody ever replies back. A friend once told me that scammers ask you for your own bank account number in order to transfer the alleged funds into it and I wondered how they could benefit from that? Is it possible for them to draw money out of your account without your authorization even if one was mad enough to give it to them? Your bank details are on all your cheques anyway so I wouldnt have thought people could do much with possessing them. Any info?
om prakash kumawat (not verified)
Prize Money (confirmation)
Tue, 2007/07/24 - 04:35My lottory money not recive in india
saad khan (not verified)
por man i am
Fri, 2007/10/05 - 13:43Ref:575061725/189 Batch:8056490902/188 Winning no:KB8701/LPRC CONGRATULATIONS ! Dear Sir/Madam,
We are delighted to inform you of your prize release on the 9th May 2007 from
the Australian International Lottery Programme.
Which is fully based on an electronic selection of winners using their e-mail
addresses.Your name was attached to ticket number;575061725 8056490902
serial
number 6741137002 This batch draws the lucky numbers as follows
4-13-33-37-42
bonus Number 17,which consequently won the lottery in the second
category.
You here by have been approved a lump sum pay of US$500,000.00 (FIVE
HUNDRED
THOUSAND DOLLARS)in cash credit file ref:ILP/HW 47509/02 from the total
cash
prize shared amongst eight lucky winners in this category.
All participant were selected through a computer balloting system drawn
from
Nine hundred thousand E-mail addresses from Canada, Australia,United
States,
Asia,Europe,Middle East, Africa and Oceania as part of our
international
promotions program which is conducted annually.
This Lottery was promoted and sponsored by a conglomerate of some
multinational companies as part of their social responsibility to the
citizens
in the communities where they have operational base. Further more your
details(e-mail address) falls within our European representative office
in
Amsterdam, Holland,as indicated in your play coupon and your prize of
US$500,000.00 will be released to you from this regional branch office
in but
Hello Sir, i am a vary vary poor man and i can not pay fees and courier company charges fees plz help me sir plz help me . plz help me my prize money.thanks you sir. Advised me sir.plz send my prize money in my bank account . i can not pay COURIER COMPANY CHARGES FEES i shall pay you when i recive my prize then i send you money fees plz send me my prize in my bank account .but fist recive my prize monay ok and i send you aer fees all man ok
my name..SAAD JAVED KHAN
my bank account number. my prsonal account number.8003-6
my bank name..NATIOLAL BANK MANE BARCH ABBOTTABAD (N,W.F.P.)
my bank address..NATIONAL BANK MANE BARCH ABBOTTABAD (N.W.F.P.)PAKISTAN BANK CORD(0301)
my Home Phone no.0992379123 . mobill no.03469521449 . age.29. my address.P/O KOTHIALA CITY ABBOTTTABAD (N.W.F.P.) PAKISTAN.
mazen mohammed ... (not verified)
i recived amessege from hsbc bank
Tue, 2007/10/09 - 15:17i recive this message
AWARD NOTIFICATION: FINAL NOTICE
We are delighted to inform you of your prize release on the 24th of SEPTEMBER 2007 from the Australian International Lottery Programme with the following information:
(Co-oordinator).
and they want form me to send 500$ to them please is the a joke or no. can you give me the the number of the winner in 24th septemper to know if the letter is really or no
mazen mohammed awadh abuid
alkaseer_2010@yahoo.com
Anonymous (not verified)
sad experience about winning lottery
Thu, 2007/10/18 - 00:37I don't know what will happen to me. I hope the the details i have given to the scammers will not be used in any unlawful transactions.I'm afraid because i only read about the scam after i have revealed my atm account and my address. Anyway that is the only detail i have given to them. My atm account -number and my address. Maybe they cannot also transact business using my number since I need to sign all transactions.
I received this message:
CLAIMS/VERIFICATION AND INTERNATIONAL
REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT
PHONE NO:+234-806-819-5230
FAX NO:234-803-300-747
SENT:WEDNESDAY,17TH,OCTOBER,2007
SUBJECT: CONFIRMATION OF PRIZE
EMAIL CONFIRMATION: (chucastroborre@yahoo.com)
ATTENTION WINNER: MARICHU C. BORRE
THIS IS TO OFFICIALLY ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF YOUR DETAILED INFORMATION FROM THE AUSTRALIAN LOTTERY AGENCY AND YOUR WINNING INFORMATION FOR THE PRIZE TRANSFER.
THE AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY PROGRAMME DEPOSITED YOUR WINNING PRIZE IN A BANK DRAFT TO THE NOMINATION OF YOUR EMAIL THAT WON THE LOTTERY THROUGH AN ELECTRONIC SELECTION OF EMAIL ADDRESSES. WE WILL BE SENDING TO YOU THE PAYMENT APPROVAL INFORMATION AFTER THE ACKNOWLEGDEMENT RECIEPT OF THESE MAIL.
FURTHERMORE, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO OBTAIN A LEGAL AFFIDAVIT OF CLAIM FROM THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE TO LEGALIZE THE TRANSFER OF YOUR FUND. IN THIS REGARDS YOU ARE TO COME TO NIGERIA IN PERSON TO OBTAIN THIS LEGAL DOCUMENT BEFORE WE CAN COMMENCE WITH THE TRANSFER.
WE WILL LIKE TO INFORM YOU THAT IF YOU CANNOT COME TO NIGERIA TO CLAIM THE PRIZE,WE HAVE TWO OPTIONS OPEN TO YOU TO MAKE A CHOICE CONCERNING THE PRIZE TRANSFER.WE CAN TRANSFER THE PRIZE TO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT IN YOUR LOCATION ,IN THIS REGARD,YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE YOUR BANK ACCOUNT INFORMATION SO WE CAN COMMENCE WITH THE TRANSFER.WE CAN ALSO DELIVER YOUR PRIZE IN A BANK CHEQUE THROUGH COURIER DELIVERY,IN THIS REGARD,YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE YOUR CURRENT POSTAL ADDRESS WHERE YOUR CHEQUE CAN BE DELIVERED TO YOU THROUGH COURIER DELIVERY.ON RECIEPT OF THE CHEQUE YOU CAN CASH IT IN ANY INTERNATIONAL BANK IN YOUR LOCATION.
SO YOU ARE ADVICED TO MAKE A CHOICE OF HOW YOU WANT US TO TRANSFER YOUR WINNING PRIZE AND SEND TO US THE REQUIRED INFORMATION SO WE CAN COMMENCE WITH THE TRANSFER PROCESS.
CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN ON YOUR WINNINGS.
YOURS TRULY,
MR. TONY P. PHIDO,
GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC.
+2348068195230
Anonymous (not verified)
I HAVE THE SAME E-MAIL
Wed, 2008/04/02 - 13:05I'M WORRIED TOO BECAUSE I'VE GIVEN MY FULL NAME, ADDRESS AND TEL. NO. BEFORE I'VE READ ALL ABOUT THIS SCAM SCHEME.
HERE IS THE E-MAIL 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
Alice (not verified)
Me too, I have filled in my details
Mon, 2008/08/11 - 14:46I'm the one who the same as you.
I have filled in my Full Name,Address,Country,Tel
Have anythings happened to you?
I'm scared I will be lost Anything by this scary criminals!!!!
Please reply me if you read my message. Tell me what had happened to you after you send this for the fraud lottery.
I"M WORRIED either!!
Thanks!
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