419 scam: <information_unit@virgilio.it> END OF YEAR BONUSin faith please..........ER NOTICErnational Promotions !!(XMAS BONUS)-MAIL RESULPŒë¸"

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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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
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!
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.
- lotteryclaimsagent@walla.com (Walla.com, Israel; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- peter van claims manager lotto netherlands email- lotteryclaimsagent@walla.com fax -31-847-515- 275 tel -31-613-813-795 note that all (Walla; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: <information_unit@virgilio.it>
Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 18:57:58 +0100 (GMT+01:00)
Subject: END OF YEAR BONUS

Lotto International
European Promotional Draws
Amsterdam
Netherlands
Claims Department Ref: MMCAN/652311872/05 Batch:
074/05/369MM
WINNING NOTIFICATION (NO TICKET WAS SOLD ) !
We
happily
announce to you the draw of The European Software
Manufacturers
Association Under Lotto Netherlands Sweepstake Lottery
programs held
in Netherlands.
Your e-mail address attached to
ticket number:
564700564321 with Serial number 4265/02 drew the lucky
numbers: 31-05-
75-67-25-04, which subsequently won you the lottery in
the 2nd
category.
You have therefore been approved to claim a total
sum of
One Million, Five Hundred Thousand ( Euros 1,500,000.00 ) in
cash
credited to file Ref. MMCAN/652311872/05.
This is from a total
cash
prize of Euros 22,500,000.00 , shared amongst the first Fifteen
(15)
lucky winners in this category. All participants were selected
randomly from World Wide Web site through computer draw system and
extracted from over 150,000 individual/ company e-mail addresses. This
promotion takes place annually.
In view of this, your Euros
1,500,000.00 (One Million, Five Hundred Thousand Euros) would be
released to you by our payment office in Europe. To begin your lottery
claim, do contact the claims manager :
MR. PETER VAN
CLAIMS MANAGER
LOTTO NETHERLANDS
email- lotteryclaimsagent@walla.com
Fax -31-847-515-
275
Tel -31-613-813-795

Note that all winning must be claimed not
later than 31st December,2005. After this date all unclaimed funds
will
be included in the next year sweepstake.
In order to avoid
unnecessary delays and complications do remember to quote your
reference number and batch numbers in all correspondence.

Furthermore, should there be any change of address do not hesitate
inform your claims manager as soon as possible. Congratulations once
more from our members of staff and thank you for being part of our
promotional program.
Yours Sincerely,
MRS. ANNA MICHAEL
email:
information_unit@virgilio.it
Lottery Coordinator
************************************************************************
DISCLAIMER:
This communication is for the exclusive use of the
intended recipient
(s) and shall not attach any liability on the
originator, Lotto
Netherlands International. If you are the addressee,
the contents of
this letter are intended for your use only and it
shall not be
forwarded to any third party, without first obtaining
written
authorizations from the originator. It may contain
information, which
is confidential and legally privileged and the same
shall not be used
or dealt with by any third party in any manner
without the specific
consent of Lotto Netherlands .www.lotto.nl

--

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam