419 scam: "Customer Services"<national-lottery01@in.com> ...FINAL NOTICE: Please redeem your winnings,Thank you 24/09/09

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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "uk national lottery" (can only win this lottery if you bought a ticket)
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "clearance fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "million dollars" (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)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
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.
- tsmith01@indiatimes.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Customer Services" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <tsmith01@indiatimes.com>
Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:40:03 +0100
Subject: ...FINAL NOTICE: Please redeem your winnings,Thank you 24/09/09

Customer Services
Ref: USCA/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369
File #: KTU/9023118308/03

We happily announce to you the Third annual draw of the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY Sweepstake Lottery
International program held on the 1st of August 2009 In Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Your e-mail address was attached to ticket number: 564 75600545 188 and Serial number 5368/02 drew
the lucky numbers: 20-21-23-24-27-28-33 which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category.
You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of US$138,500 (One Hundred and Thirty Eight
Thousand Five Hundred United States Dollars) in cash credited to file ktu/9023118308/03.This is from
a total cash prize of US$5,540 ,000 million dollars, shared amongst the First Twenty (40) lucky winners
in this category.

All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web through computer Draw system.This
promotion takes place quarterly in view of this, your US$138,500 (One Hundred and Thirty Eight
Thousand Five Hundred United States Dollars) would be released and Processed By our Fiduciary agents
/officers in Canada .For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential
until your claims has been processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit
to claim your prize. This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid claiming and unwarranted Abuse
of this program by some unscrupulous elements.Please be warned. Such cases we encountered earlier.

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of US$138,500 (One Hundred and Thirty Eight
Thousand Five Hundred United States Dollars) at no extra cost to yourself from our North American
payment office located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada should you claim within the 3week timeframe.

Now, we would like to explain to you the Federal and International regulations governing the personal
collections of cash prizes.

1) Prize winnings are released to you as soon as your Clearance Fee is deducted and paid. That will be the
day that your cheque will be released from our remittance office.

2) Your clearance fee is provided for you and is a calculated amount based on the size of your win as
required by Federal and International regulations.

3) Note that once your clearance fee is paid, you will receive your winnings in the form of a certified check
/Draft or if you request, by bank transfer directly into your bank account or any account nominated by you.

4) If you are contacted by any other person other than the designated fiduciary Agent and you are asked to
send any form of money please desist from any further communication with this person, we provide all
stipulated charges or fees take note of this.

To file for your claim, please direct all mails /enquiries to our fiduciary Agents in Canada they will take
charge of all winners from the continents mentioned above, with all of the Details available below.Once
you have made contact, we shall designate one of our numerous Customer services officer to handle your
claim:

Mr. Thomas Smith

Tel/Fax no: +1-206-888-2125

Email: tsmith01@indiatimes.com

Good luck from me and members of staff of the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY.To avoid necessary delays and
complications, please immediately send us an email or fax with following details below:

a) Quote your reference/batch and file numbers.

b) Your full names and current address.

c) Proof of identity.

d) Also a copy of this email message.

e) Winning amount.

f) Your email address,telephone and fax numbers.

Congratulations once more from all members and staff of this program. Thank You for being part of our
promotional lottery program.

Yours Sincerely,

MR MARTIN HENRY

LOTTERY CO-ORDINATOR.
(UK NATIONAL LOTTERY)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam