419 scam: A.E.P <office.info@sify.com> Your awards letter

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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.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "million british pounds" (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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
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!
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447005800498 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
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.
- office.info@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: A.E.P <office.info@sify.com>
Date: Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:36:49 -0700
Subject: Your awards letter - Congratulations

New Page 1
Microsoft / Google Sweepstake Promotions
1013 Victoria Street

Central London
SW1E 5JL, United Kingdom
Ref: EUM DN 0508-9T6
Batch: EUM QY-3LJ4.

Dear Internet User,

This is to inform you of the official release in the second category of our Annual Sweepstake Promotions and Lottery Draw held on August 26, 2009, that the sum of £741.000.00 (Seven Hundred and Forty One Thousand British Pounds) has been awarded to you as cash grant from the Microsoft and Google Company for this year 2009 Cash Grant Award. This is from the total of £1.7 Million British Pounds which was share and presented among 10 declared winners. Please note that all participants were selected through a random computer ballot system drawn from over 500,000 email address.
********************************************

* Claim Number: MS-GOO/SLP1045 *

********************************************
Your email address as indicated was drawn and attached to Ticket Number 3510-EM 47 with serial numbers BTD/0257903122/09 and drew the lucky numbers 05 13 27 33 42 (02-04). Which subsequently won you £741.000.00 (Seven Hundred and Forty One Thousand British Pounds).The draws that was registered as winning numbers were drawn in Sweepstakes Promotions Office at Central London, United Kingdom on the 26th of August 2009. In accordance with the Sweepstakes and Lottery Commission policy, your prize winning will be forwarded to our Clearing / disbursement institution to release the winning prize to you as soon as we receive a confirmation email or telephone call acknowledge the receipt of this email. Processing of your claim must be completed within 21days from the date on this notification, otherwise your winning will be deemed as unclaimed and declared null and void

Contact your Claim Agent: Barrister Ole Bjorn Tellefsen

Winning Claims Department

Email: office.info@sify.com

Telephone Number: +44-7005-800-498

With the information listed below.

1. Full Names:
2. Home Address:
3. Age:
4. Sex:
5. Marital Status:
6. Occupation:
7. Phone numbers:
8. Country:

To avoid unnecessary delays, remember to always quote your claim number in all your correspondence with our office.

Our special thanks and gratitude to Bill Gates and his associates. We wish you the best of luck.

Sincerely,
Mr. Alan Gilmore
Head Customer Care Service
Microsoft and Google Promotions Team

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam