29th May'2009 Deccan Chronical, Hyderabad

Two Nigerians, who allegedly defrauded a Kolkatan of over Rs 1.2 lakh by sending her a text message stating that she had won £200,000 in a lottery, were arrested in Delhi on Tuesday

28th May'2009 The Telegraph, Kolakata

The messages, you may get on your mobile…

Congrats, You have won 1 million USD in 2009 ongoing (SHELL) intnl mobile draws in Nigeria. To claim, email your name and mobile phone # to

Guiness Award Promotion Congratulations!!! Your cell phone number has won a prize money of 700,000 GBP. From the Guiness Award Splash Promotion held on the 10th of May. For more information contact

These are some of the SMSes doing the rounds on various networks — proof that the infamous Nigerian fraud that plagued internet users till now, has a new address — your cell phone.

Hackers and fraudsters have now switched from emails to SMSes, as their tool to dupe people. Several people in the city have been receiving messages congratulating them on winning an international draw, which entitles them to a whopping 1 million USD or 700,000 GBP. When the receiver responds to the message on the number or email id provided, he/she gets sucked into an endless spiral that leaves them poorer by thousands of rupees

A resident of Kolakata, Sunanda received an SMS in March as she was winner of a lucky draw organized by a multinational company among cell phone users across the world. Sunanda responded by sending an email to an address mentioned in the message.

"They told Sunanda that a diplomat from the UK named Ben John Kennedy would reach Delhi shortly and hand over £200,000 to her. They even sent her a winner’s certificate and scanned photographs of a passport supposedly belonging to Kennedy.

Then the Hackers claimed they were in Delhi and gave Sunanda a cellphone number to communicate with them. "Once they became sure that she had fallen into their trap, they asked for a processing fee of nearly Rs 70,000. The duo then asked for a customs clearance fee," - Kolakata Police Told.

The scam is also known as the “Advance fee fraud” or the "419 Scam" typically involves an e-mail or SMS promising lucrative prize. When the receiver responds, he/she is asked to send an advance fee or processing fee for the prize money to be sent to his/her address.

Safety Tips:

• If you receive an email from someone claiming to need your help getting money out of a foreign country, don't respond .
• If you receive an email or SMS from someone claiming you are the winner of lottery, do not respond.
• Never give your personal details such as family details, financial information to unknown persons Never believe in free money.
• Make your personal details private in web.

Sources: Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad Edition 23rd May'2009 The Telegraph, Kolkata Edition on 28th May'2009