419 scam: UKLOTO24 CHRISTMAS DRAW <thelotto24@yahoo.co.uk> Christmas Lucky Drawceion:R F Smith!!! AWARD WIPŒë¸"

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- ",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)
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 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.
- 00447881454005
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.
- uklotto24@netscape.net (Netscape; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: UKLOTO24 CHRISTMAS DRAW <thelotto24@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: uklotto24@netscape.net
Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2005 12:39:14 +0000
Subject: Christmas Lucky Draw

LOTTO24 ONLINE LOTTERY
(www.lotto24.co.uk)
58c Morat Street, SW9 0RR
London-UK

From The Desk of: The Vice President,
International Promotions/ Prize Award.
Ref: LD401UK/05
Batch: LD836/05/UK
CHRISTMAS WINNING NOTIFICATION!!!!
This is to inform you of the release of the newly launched email lottery
ballot draw held on the 17th Dec.2005 billed for the Christmas celebration. Although due to the mix up of numbers, the results were released on the 20th Dec. 2005.

Congratulations. Your email address drew the lucky numbers of 11-8-9, which consequently won £125,000.00 (One Hundred & Twenty Five Thousand Pounds Sterling) in this new email lottery ballot in the 1st category.

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of £125,000.00 ( One Hundred & Twenty Five Thousand Pounds) in cash credited to file with
ref number LD401UK/05.

Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your winning
information confidential until your claims have been processed and your money
paid to you.

This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid a case of double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants.

All participants were selected through a computerized ballot system drawn
from only Microsoft users from over 20,000 company, and 3,000,000 individual
email addresses and names from all over the world. This new promotional program
would be taking place every three years.

To begin your lottery claim, please contact Dr. Ben Cole your claims agent LOTTO24 ONLINE LOTTERY, UK office on Tel:0044-788-145-4005. Email:(uklotto24@netscape.net) who has been appointed for the processing of your winning.
Call him immediately for the processing and remittance of your winning
prize Money to any destination of your choice.

Any claim not made on or before the 25th of Dec 2005(Christmas day),such claim will be reverted to charity organization appointed by the Global Lottery International for good cause and Lotto24 would not be held liable for such unpaid winnings

Also in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, remember
to always quote your reference number and batch numbers in all your correspondence with Dr. Ben Cole and please follow all his instructions religiously.
Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform your agent as soon
as possible.
Congratulations once more from our members of staff and you are lucky for being part of our promotional program.

Yours Sincerely,
Mrs.Sandra Platt
Lotto24 Online Lottery
International Promotions/ Prize Award,
NB: Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will result to
instant disqualification.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam