419 scam: "2009 Netherlands Lotto"<clay_links01@yahoo.com.hk> Attn: Email Bearer,

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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.
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:
- "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "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)
- ",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 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.
- +31647368018 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- clay_links@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "2009 Netherlands Lotto" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <clay_links@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 23:09:06 +0200
Subject: Attn: Email Bearer,

PROCEED WITH YOUR CLAIMS
PLEASE CONTACT YOUR CLAIMS AGENT
Immediately update your claims for
your payment.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!...YOUR EMAIL AS WON$2,500,000.00 (Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars)

We are pleased to inform you that you have been awarded PROCEED WITH YOUR CLAIMS
PLEASE CONTACT YOUR CLAIMS AGENT
Immediately update your claims for
your payment. satellite software email lotto promotional program in which email addresses are picked randomly by software powered by the Internet through the World Wide Web.

Your email address was among those chosen in the EURO-MILLIONS ,NL satellite software email lotto promotion. And this promotional program is proudly sponsored by EURO-MILLIONS ,NL.

Your email address, attached to ref number 16, 34, 21, 43, 17, 94, 33 with serial number 5453-36 drew the lucky numbers 8, and consequently won the lotto in the first category. You are therefore been approved for a lump sum payment out of $2,500,000.00 (Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars)
Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European representative office in Europe in view of this, your $2,500,000.00 (Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) will be processed and released to you by our fiduciary agent located in Europe. Our European agent will immediately commence with the process to facilitate the release of your lotto winning prize as soon as you contact them.

All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web through computer draw System and extracted from over 800,000,000 companies and individual email addresses world Wide.

This promotional program takes place annually. We advice that you keep your winning details confidential till your claims is processed and your lotto winning prize remitted to you. This is part of our policy measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this promotional program by some participants.

To file for your claims please contact your accredited fiduciary agent with the details as stated below.

Mr.CLAY LINKS
Phone:+31-647-368-018
Fax:+31-847-375-060
EMAIL:clay_links@yahoo.com.hk
www.lotto.nl

You are to provide the details as stated below
1. Name:
2. Address:
3. Marital Status:
4. Age:
5. Sex:
6. Nationality:
7. Country of Residence:
8. Occupation:
9. Telephone Number:
10. Fax Number:
11. Reference Number:
12. Serial Number:
13. Lucky Number:

These details facilitate the processing and the remittance of your lotto winning prize to avoid unnecessary delays and complications in the processing of your prize and always remember to quote your reference, serial and lucky number in any correspondences with your accredited fiduciary agent.

Congratulations from all members and staff of this promotional program, we also thank you for being part of our promotional program this year.

Sincerely Yours,
Mrs. Luna Matt
Lottery Coordinator.
www.lotto.nl

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam