419 scam: "Mrs. Ann Lowe"<annglowe1@yahoo.fr> CONGRATULATIONS!

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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:
- "from: the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "claims office" (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 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.
- juphillips2@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Ann Lowe" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <juphillips1@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 11:15:32 -0600
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!

PACIFIC LOTTO FIRMA,
EUROPE.
FROM: THE DESK OF THE DIRECTOR PROMOTIONS,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE
AWARD DEPARTMENT,
REF: PLF/10 24 2601 3518

Attention please:

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement of winners of the PACIFICLOTTO-FIRMA WORLDLOTTO/INTERNATIONAL SWEEPSTAKES PROGRAMS held on 15th January, 2010.

Your email address, attached to ticket number 013-2316-2002-477, with serial number A025-09 drew the lucky numbers 37-13-34-85-56-42,and consequently won in category C.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of GBP1,500,000.00 credited to file REF NO. REF:PLF/10 24 2601 3518 .
This is from a total prize money of GBP15,000,000.00 shared among the ten international winners in the category C.

All winners were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 30,000 emails addresses from Australia, New Zealand, America, Asia, Europe and North America
as part of our International Promotions Program, which is conducted annually.

CONGRATULATIONS!
Your fund is now deposited with a Finance Group House insured in your name.
Due to the mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep this award strictly from public notice until your claim has been processed and your funds remitted to your account. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unscrupulous acts by participants of this program.

=====================================================================================
To collect your claim, please contact Weltlotto Administrator:
Mr. Justin Phillips
Email: juphillips2@yahoo.com.hk

NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference number in every one of your correspondences with your
claims officer.

Mrs. Ann Lowe
THE DIRECTOR PROMOTIONS,
PACIFICLOTTO FIRMA BV.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam