419 scam: "MRS. ANNA MARIANO"<annmarianodirecto@indiatimes.com> BLESS YOU (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.
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:
- "from: the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "foreign service manager" (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.
- agencyoasis@indiatimes.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MRS. ANNA MARIANO" (may be fake)
Date: Fri, 18 Jun 2010 23:37:16 +0200
Subject: BLESS YOU (CONGRATULATIONS)

FROM: THE DESK OF MANAGING DIRECTOR
CLAIM FILE NUMBER: ES/D-24145190086
BATCH NUMBER: 02233766

ATTENTION: STAKE WINNER,

RE: PRIZE AWARD NOTIFICATION FINAL NOTICE

We are pleased to inform you today,18th day of June, 2010 on the release of the INTER`NL LOTERIA SWEEP STAKE LOTTERY

/ INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM Held on the 5th April 2010. Your name attached to the ticket number 037 523-886-950 drew the

lucky numbers 12-14-16-24-34-46 which consequently won the lottery in the 3rd category.

You have therefore been approved for a lump Sum Payout of $815,950.00 (EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN THOUSAND, NINE

HUNDRED AND FIFTY UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY) In Cash Credited To File REF NO:ES/D-24145190086. This is from A Total

Cash Prize of $28,556.740.00 (TWENTY EIGHT MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-SIX THOUSAND, SEVEN HUNDRED AND FORTY

UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY) Shared among International Winners in this Category.

CONGRATULATIONS

Your fund is now deposited with a finance company insured to your name. Please note that your claim and batch

numbers are the key to your funds, you are to keep them confidential until your claims had been duly processed and

your money remitted into your Bank Account as this is part of our security protocol / strategy to avoid double

claiming or unwarranted taking of advantage of this program by participants. All participants were selected through

a computer ballot system drawn from 27,000 names from Europe, America and Asia as part of our International

Promotions programme which we conduct twice every year. We hope with a part of your prize you will take part in our

next high stake of USD 1 .2 BILLION INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY PROGRAMME.

To begin your claim, please contact your claim agent ERIC LAWSON, the Foreign Service manager of OASIS SECURITY &

CONVEYOR AGENCY S..A. On ,Email: agencyoasis@indiatimes.com for immediate processing and remittance of your prize

money to a designated Bank Account of your choice. Remember all prize money must be claimed not latter than

30th,June 2010. After this date, all funds will be returned to the Ministerio De economia y Hacienda De Espa?a as

unclaimed.

NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delay and complications, please remember to quote your Reference and Batch

numbers in every of your correspondence with us or your claims agent. Furthermore, should there be any change of

address, do notify your claims agent as soon as possible for any necessary reconciliation in your payment file.

Congratulations once again from all members of our staff and thank you for being a part of our Promotion Programme.

Sincerely,
MRS. ANNA MARIANO
DIRECTOR

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam