419 scam: INTERNATIONAL SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY < international@portugalmail.pt> INTERNATIONAL SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY COPORATION AWARDS

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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:
- "international lottery programme" (no such lottery exists)
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
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.
- huggardmark_paymentoffices@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: INTERNATIONAL SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY < international@portugalmail.pt>
Reply-To: huggardmark_paymentoffices@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:38:15 +0800
Subject: INTERNATIONAL SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY COPORATION AWARDS

FROM DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARDS DEPARTMENT AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY COPORATION; DATE: JANUARY, 2010 REF NUMBER:575061725 BATCH NUMBER:8056490902/188 WINNING NUMBER:KB8701/LPRC CONGRATULATION! CONGRATULATION!! CONGRATULATION!!! Dear Sir/Madam, We are delighted to inform you of your prize release on the 1st of January 2010 from the AUSTRALIA INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY PROGRAMME,Which is fully based on an electronic selection of winners using their email addresses, Your email address was attached to ticket number; number;575061725 8056490902 serial number 6741137002. This batch draws the lucky numbers as follows 4-13-33-37-42bonus number 17, which consequently won the lottery in the second category. you have been approved a lump sum pay of US$450,000.00 (FOUR HUNDRED & FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS) in cash credit file ref: ILP/HW 47509/02 from the total cash prize shared amongst eight lucky winners in 2nd category. All participant were selected through computer balloting system drawn form Nine hundred thousand E-mail addresses from Canada, Australia, United States, Asia, Europe,Middle East, Africa and Oceania as part of our international promotions program which is conducted annually. This Lottery was promoted and sponsored by a conglomerate of some international companies as part of their social responsibility to the citizens in the communities where they have operational base. Furthermore your detail (e-mail address) falls within our UK representative office as indicated in your play coupon and your prize of US$450,000.00 will be released to you from this regional branch office in UK.We hope with part of your prize, you will participate in our end of year high stakes for US$1.3 Billion international draw. HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE: Simply contact our fiducially agent MR. Mark Haggard E-mail:huggardmark_paymentoffices@yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam