Do you think this is an email con?
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Join Date: Jul 2006
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Do you think this is an email con?
I got this email the other day can you tell me if you think it is a con or not.I think it is a con by the way......
FROM:THE DESK OF VICE PRESIDENT
Mrs.Sophia Halendale
URBAN LOTTO INT'L
12 Bridge Street,
Staines Middlesex TW18 4TP
United Kingdom.
Ticket #:56475
Serial #:5368
WINNING NOTIFICATION
We happily announce to you the draw (Draw #06/1056) of the URBAN LOTTO
INT'L, online Sweepstakes International Program held on SATURDAY 13TH
MAY
2006
Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 56475with
Serial
number 5368 drew the lucky numbers:Which subsequently won you one of
the
lucky dip prizes. You have therefore been approved to claim total sum
of
(TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND BRITISH POUNDS ) in cash credited to
fileKTU/902
This is from a total cash prize of (SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND
BRITISH
POUNDS), shared amongst the THREE (3)lucky winners in this category.
All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web through a
computer corporate bodies that are listed online. To check your results
online click on this link
Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our African
booklet
representative office in Africa as indicated in your play coupon. In
view of
this,your(TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND BRITISH POUNDS) would be
released
to you by any of our payment offices in Africa.
Our African paying bank will immediately commence the process to
facilitatethe release of your funds as soon as you contact him.
For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning
informationconfidential till your claim is processed and your money
remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize.
This is
part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and
unwarranted
abuse ofthis program.Please be warned !!!
To file for your claim, please contact our lottery payment bank via
email:
This is the paying banks contact:
UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA, PLC
Head Office: Lagos, Nigeria
UBA House 57, MARINA,
P.O. Box 2406, Lagos.
Tel: +(234)805-980-6741
Tel: +(234)802-349-7217
Fax: 01- 4748626
Telex: MIBANK NG 28493, 287196, 11489 and 28990
E-mail:[email protected]
Contact Name
r.Aliyu Dikko
With the following vital information:
Full Name:..........................
Full Address:.......................
Nationality:........................
Occupation:.......................
Age:....................................
Sex:........................................
Marital status:..........................
Winning numbers:......................
Batch number:.............................
Amount won:.............................
Email address:...................................
Phone number{land/mobile}:.........
*NOTE*
YOU ARE TO CALL THE BANK IMMEDIATELLY YOU GET THIS WINNING NOTIFICATION
LETTER TO NOTIFY YOUR CLAIM BY PROVIDING YOUR SERIAL# AND TICKET #. DO
NOT
FORGET TO KEEP YOUR WINNING CONFIDENTIAL.DO CALL THE BANK @:
Tel: +(234)805-980-6741
Tel; +(234)802-349-7217
For your own intrest, you are advised to keep your winning information
confidential till your claim is processed and your money remitted to
you in
whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize. This is part of our
precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of
this
program.Please be warned.
Once again congratulations from the entire staff of the URBAN LOTTO
INT'L
Warm regards,
MISS.SOPHIA M.D HALENDALE.
Online Coordinator
URBAN LOTTO INT'L.
COPYRIGHT
2006 ALL RIGHT RESERVED
FROM:THE DESK OF VICE PRESIDENT
Mrs.Sophia Halendale
URBAN LOTTO INT'L
12 Bridge Street,
Staines Middlesex TW18 4TP
United Kingdom.
Ticket #:56475
Serial #:5368
WINNING NOTIFICATION
We happily announce to you the draw (Draw #06/1056) of the URBAN LOTTO
INT'L, online Sweepstakes International Program held on SATURDAY 13TH
MAY
2006
Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 56475with
Serial
number 5368 drew the lucky numbers:Which subsequently won you one of
the
lucky dip prizes. You have therefore been approved to claim total sum
of
(TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND BRITISH POUNDS ) in cash credited to
fileKTU/902
This is from a total cash prize of (SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND
BRITISH
POUNDS), shared amongst the THREE (3)lucky winners in this category.
All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web through a
computer corporate bodies that are listed online. To check your results
online click on this link
Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our African
booklet
representative office in Africa as indicated in your play coupon. In
view of
this,your(TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND BRITISH POUNDS) would be
released
to you by any of our payment offices in Africa.
Our African paying bank will immediately commence the process to
facilitatethe release of your funds as soon as you contact him.
For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning
informationconfidential till your claim is processed and your money
remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize.
This is
part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and
unwarranted
abuse ofthis program.Please be warned !!!
To file for your claim, please contact our lottery payment bank via
email:
This is the paying banks contact:
UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA, PLC
Head Office: Lagos, Nigeria
UBA House 57, MARINA,
P.O. Box 2406, Lagos.
Tel: +(234)805-980-6741
Tel: +(234)802-349-7217
Fax: 01- 4748626
Telex: MIBANK NG 28493, 287196, 11489 and 28990
E-mail:[email protected]
Contact Name
r.Aliyu DikkoWith the following vital information:
Full Name:..........................
Full Address:.......................
Nationality:........................
Occupation:.......................
Age:....................................
Sex:........................................
Marital status:..........................
Winning numbers:......................
Batch number:.............................
Amount won:.............................
Email address:...................................
Phone number{land/mobile}:.........
*NOTE*
YOU ARE TO CALL THE BANK IMMEDIATELLY YOU GET THIS WINNING NOTIFICATION
LETTER TO NOTIFY YOUR CLAIM BY PROVIDING YOUR SERIAL# AND TICKET #. DO
NOT
FORGET TO KEEP YOUR WINNING CONFIDENTIAL.DO CALL THE BANK @:
Tel: +(234)805-980-6741
Tel; +(234)802-349-7217
For your own intrest, you are advised to keep your winning information
confidential till your claim is processed and your money remitted to
you in
whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize. This is part of our
precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of
this
program.Please be warned.
Once again congratulations from the entire staff of the URBAN LOTTO
INT'L
Warm regards,
MISS.SOPHIA M.D HALENDALE.
Online Coordinator
URBAN LOTTO INT'L.
COPYRIGHT
2006 ALL RIGHT RESERVED
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: UK
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A quick google for Aliyu Dikko brings up this webpage:
http://www.joewein.de/sw/419-phone-ng.htm
Don't touch anything from Nigeria.
http://www.joewein.de/sw/419-phone-ng.htm
Don't touch anything from Nigeria.
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Location: UK
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Variations of this scam have been going around now for years- the con used to be sent either by letter or fax. Now, over the past few years by email. The scam invariably has an African country's origin, which is one of the main clues, and the kicker is that they always mention that they will require bank details, or a deposit, from you, before they can send you on the share of +-£100m(- not!). Once they have your money, you will never hear from them again.
The emails usually seem so unbelievable. Some emails are quite funny, they're so badly put together. You would expect that the practice must be known to just about everyone by now, but- yet, one reads of people being taken in all the time.
The emails usually seem so unbelievable. Some emails are quite funny, they're so badly put together. You would expect that the practice must be known to just about everyone by now, but- yet, one reads of people being taken in all the time.
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: UK
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EGCN - You sound like you were unsure if it was a con or not!
Here is a simple test to apply to all future emails/texts/phone calls/letters you get saying "You've won!", ask yourself :
"Did I buy a lottery/raffle ticket? Did I call that number/write to that address?"
If the answer is no, then how can you have won?
#Blinding flash of light# It's a con!! #Blinding flash of light#
Works for me
Here is a simple test to apply to all future emails/texts/phone calls/letters you get saying "You've won!", ask yourself :
"Did I buy a lottery/raffle ticket? Did I call that number/write to that address?"
If the answer is no, then how can you have won?
#Blinding flash of light# It's a con!! #Blinding flash of light#
Works for me
Bludger extraordinaire
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The English, punctuation and grammar are deplorable.
You may therefore rest assured that you are dealing with someone who has been educated here within the last ten years, and not with someone working out of an Internet cafe in Lagos, who'd have tried much harder.
Do claim your TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND BRITISH POUNDS although you have invalidated yourself by not keeping your winning informationconfidential.
These threads come up about once a week, much like "How do I get a Free Upgrad3?" on SLF. If you are seriously asking whether this is a scam, I hope that you invest some time soon in learning about the more credible scams doing the rounds.
BOFH
You may therefore rest assured that you are dealing with someone who has been educated here within the last ten years, and not with someone working out of an Internet cafe in Lagos, who'd have tried much harder.
Do claim your TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND BRITISH POUNDS although you have invalidated yourself by not keeping your winning informationconfidential.
These threads come up about once a week, much like "How do I get a Free Upgrad3?" on SLF. If you are seriously asking whether this is a scam, I hope that you invest some time soon in learning about the more credible scams doing the rounds.
BOFH
You little beauty!
Thanks for publishing all the contact details!!
I sent them my own bank details, and the money arrived yesterday. I will be buying my new Porsche tomotrrow.
Suckaaaaaaa!!
Thanks for publishing all the contact details!!
I sent them my own bank details, and the money arrived yesterday. I will be buying my new Porsche tomotrrow.
Suckaaaaaaa!!
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I am sure of it. I just happened to be reading about this type of things last night. Here is what the Australian Government has to say about the issue
If you receive a scam message:
* Ignore it!
o If it sounds too good to be true – it probably is!
* Never send any money in response to a scam offer!
o No matter how convincing the offer seems.
* Once money has been advanced in response to a scam proposal, the Australian Government has no legal power to assist in its retrieval.
* The recovery of funds in these cases is a private commercial matter and the onus is on individuals to recover their losses
o The Government can assist only by providing the names of in-country legal representatives.
* Travel to the country concerned to retrieve any money that may have been advanced can be very dangerous and should be undertaken with extreme caution
Since 1992 at least 17 people have been killed in Nigeria alone attempting to recover their funds.
Convinced? or want to read more? http://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/africa/scams.html
If you receive a scam message:
* Ignore it!
o If it sounds too good to be true – it probably is!
* Never send any money in response to a scam offer!
o No matter how convincing the offer seems.
* Once money has been advanced in response to a scam proposal, the Australian Government has no legal power to assist in its retrieval.
* The recovery of funds in these cases is a private commercial matter and the onus is on individuals to recover their losses
o The Government can assist only by providing the names of in-country legal representatives.
* Travel to the country concerned to retrieve any money that may have been advanced can be very dangerous and should be undertaken with extreme caution
Since 1992 at least 17 people have been killed in Nigeria alone attempting to recover their funds.
Convinced? or want to read more? http://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/africa/scams.html
Chief Tardis Technician
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I would go for it,
Send them an email and ask for 50 quid to pay your outstanding internet bill so you can keep in touch.
Send them an email and ask for 50 quid to pay your outstanding internet bill so you can keep in touch.
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Originally Posted by Ascend Charlie
You little beauty!
Thanks for publishing all the contact details!!
I sent them my own bank details, and the money arrived yesterday. I will be buying my new Porsche tomotrrow.
Suckaaaaaaa!!
Thanks for publishing all the contact details!!
I sent them my own bank details, and the money arrived yesterday. I will be buying my new Porsche tomotrrow.
Suckaaaaaaa!!
Suckaaaaaaa
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Actually some of the scams are beautifully written. Winston Churchill would have been proud of some of them.
One can tell it's a con because few people can spell more than their name nowadays
It's obvious it must be a con but I do sometimes wonder how it works. For example I get a lot of African "potential customers" wanting to buy my (fairly specialised) electronic products. What the hell can they do with them? About as useful to them as a machine for making bra straps would be to me.
One can tell it's a con because few people can spell more than their name nowadays
It's obvious it must be a con but I do sometimes wonder how it works. For example I get a lot of African "potential customers" wanting to buy my (fairly specialised) electronic products. What the hell can they do with them? About as useful to them as a machine for making bra straps would be to me.
Bludger extraordinaire
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IO540
The government should subsidise entrepreneurs in one-handed bra straps, though.
MelbPilot85 (quoting lowest-common-denominator AusGov warnings)
Sounds rather like a manifesto, really.
Those of you in the know will be aware of certain activities taking place to assist scammers in expending their time, effort, and in some cases, money on worthless causes and extreme humiliation. If you have a couple of hours a week, you can take thirty of these losers out of circulation and hopefully drive some of them mad. More will rise (or sink) to take their places, but you might just prevent someone else (usually susceptible) from being drawn in.
BOFH
or example I get a lot of African "potential customers" wanting to buy my (fairly specialised) electronic products.
The government should subsidise entrepreneurs in one-handed bra straps, though.
MelbPilot85 (quoting lowest-common-denominator AusGov warnings)
* Ignore it!
o If it sounds too good to be true – it probably is!
* Never send any money in response to a scam offer!
o No matter how convincing the offer seems.
o If it sounds too good to be true – it probably is!
* Never send any money in response to a scam offer!
o No matter how convincing the offer seems.
Those of you in the know will be aware of certain activities taking place to assist scammers in expending their time, effort, and in some cases, money on worthless causes and extreme humiliation. If you have a couple of hours a week, you can take thirty of these losers out of circulation and hopefully drive some of them mad. More will rise (or sink) to take their places, but you might just prevent someone else (usually susceptible) from being drawn in.
BOFH
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Originally Posted by IO540
It's obvious it must be a con but I do sometimes wonder how it works. For example I get a lot of African "potential customers" wanting to buy my (fairly specialised) electronic products. What the hell can they do with them? About as useful to them as a machine for making bra straps would be to me.
So, this brain surgeon thinks I'm going to fall for that one. Apparantly the cheque does clear somehow but within a day or two the bank calls to inform you that the cheque is actually a forgery and they won't be honouring it. So you've then not only sent whatever you were trying to flog off to this crook, but to add insult to injury you've even paid him!
My advice when dealing with stuff like this: Don't give anyone your personal details, not even a mobile number. Use PayPal or some similar service. Don't meet anyone to accept money or hand over goods, use Royal Mail - that's what they're there for. Don't respond to unsolicited emails, it just tells the scumbags that your address works and they then pass it along to their little cronies so you can receive loads more of the same. Don't give anyone any money - if they need to ask for money in order to 'process your ticket numbers' or whatever it's because there is no money in the pot and they're hoping you will be dumb enough to put some in.
Lastly, the Good Lord gave you a brain: use it!
Please feel free to add to this list of rules.
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OK, the "overpayment" scam is clear enough. Not a lot of people know that with foreign cheques there is no defined "cleared" date. They are paid in "for negotiation" (or similar) and can take months to clear the system (or bounce).
These African customers I had were going to pay with a credit card. OK, again, a stolen card, so the payment will be withdrawn by our CC provider. In the meantime, we would have despatched the goods. But what the hell can the scammer do with something really specialised? That's what I don't get.
But then there are kids who will smash a car window to nick a car radio front, worth £10 in a pub, which is useless to anybody and everybody knows it. I had that done... quite pointless.
Incidentally, Paypal isn't so good either. You don't get an irrevocable payment via Paypal. If the buyer contacts Paypal and says he never got the goods, Paypal will take the money back out again. You can't really communicate with Paypal. They got "done" by the FSA for not displaying a contact phone number; they are a "minimal customer service" operation which is OK all the time things are going smoothly. If they got half a chance they would wash their hands of any customer communication altogether. That's why one must always send stuff with a trackable service and get a signature (not Recorded Delivery; postmen often deliver those without collecting a signature, and there is no tracing en route).
These African customers I had were going to pay with a credit card. OK, again, a stolen card, so the payment will be withdrawn by our CC provider. In the meantime, we would have despatched the goods. But what the hell can the scammer do with something really specialised? That's what I don't get.
But then there are kids who will smash a car window to nick a car radio front, worth £10 in a pub, which is useless to anybody and everybody knows it. I had that done... quite pointless.
Incidentally, Paypal isn't so good either. You don't get an irrevocable payment via Paypal. If the buyer contacts Paypal and says he never got the goods, Paypal will take the money back out again. You can't really communicate with Paypal. They got "done" by the FSA for not displaying a contact phone number; they are a "minimal customer service" operation which is OK all the time things are going smoothly. If they got half a chance they would wash their hands of any customer communication altogether. That's why one must always send stuff with a trackable service and get a signature (not Recorded Delivery; postmen often deliver those without collecting a signature, and there is no tracing en route).
