419 scam: <prizesawardss@virgilio.it> END OF THE YEAR WINNERS.A CALL FOR URGENT ASSISTANCEL LOTTO PROGRAM )Œë¸"

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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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
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.
- agencyprocessing@netscape.net (Netscape; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: <prizesawardss@virgilio.it>
Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2005 12:58:08 +0100 (GMT+01:00)
Subject: END OF THE YEAR WINNERS.

END OF THE YEAR WINNERS.
CONTACT YOUR AGENT(YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IS A
WINNER)
WINNING FINAL NOTIFICATION
REALITY LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION/PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
REF: MLI/231-ILGI0431/03
BATCH: IPD/15/096/PTNL
EMAIL ADDRESS:agencyprocessing@netscape.net
WEBSITE:www.lotto.nl

FROM: GOVERNMENT ACCREDITED LICENSED LOTTERY
PROMOTERS. WINNING NOTICE FOR CATEGORY \"A\" WINNER

Sir/Madam

We are pleased to inform you of the result of theLottery Winners
International programs held on the 20th of December 2005. Your e-mail
address attached toticket number 20511465897-6291 with serial number
472-971103 drew lucky numbers 8-66-97-22-71-64, which consequently won
in the 2nd category, you have therefore been approved for a sum pay out
of E500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Euros).

CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Due
to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask thatyou keep your winning
information very confidential till your claims has been pr ocessed and
your prize/money Remitted to you. This is part of oursecurity protocol
to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some
participants. All participants were selected through a computer ballot
system drawn from over 200,000,000 company and 300,000,000 individual
email addresses and names from all over the world.

This promotional
program takes place annually. We hope with part of your winning you
will take part in our next year 100 million Euros international lottery.
To file for your claim, please contact our/your fiducially agent:
CONTACT OUR FIDUCIALLY AGENT

MR SIRINE CESAR of the,REALITY LOTTERY
INTERNATIONAL
REPLY EMAIL TO agencyprocessing@netscape.net

Please
note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications please
remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all
correspondence. Furthermore,should there be any change of address do
inform our agent as soon as possible.

Congratulations once more from
our members of staff and thank you for being part of our promotional
program.Note: Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically
disqualified.

Sincerely yours,

Mrs. Esther van bulks
Lottery
Coordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam