419 scam: "219.238.241.5"<infdestiny@aim.com> Grand Prize Winner !!

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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
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.
- +31684790024 (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.
- lotterydestiny@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "219.238.241.5" (may be fake)
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2010 14:59:50 +0200
Subject: Grand Prize Winner !!

From: THE COORDINATOR,
Promotions/Prize Award Department
DESTINY WORLD-WIDE LOTTERY.
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS.

CATEGORY "A" DRAW RESULTS
Dear Winner,

Congratulation!! You have been awarded €850.000.00 by DESTINY WORLD-WIDE LOTTERY, in the results of just concluded annual cyber draws, sponsored by "PALACE OF BINGO".

Your email address, attached to REFERENCE NUMBER: LDINT/7694/1806/10,
Batch Numbers: BN/65/A598-21, with Serial number: SN/ 56-14 -32 and
Lucky numbers: LN/91-12-60-40-15, consequently won the lottery in the "A" Category,(NO TICKETS WERE SOLD).
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of €850.000.00. (Eight-Hundred & Fifty Thousand Euros), each as payout for Category A winners.

You are advised to contact our licensed and accredited claims agent for category "A" winners on the information below, to begin the processing of your Won prize,
================================
Mr. Andrew Thomas (Paying/Foreign Department Manager)
Email: lotterydestiny@aim.com
Tel: +31-684-790-024 /Fax: +31-847-299-663
================================

You are expected to provide the following details below to your claims agent:
1. Batch and Reference Numbers
2. Full Names
3. Age
4. Sex
5. Nationality
6. Country of Residence
7. Mailing Address
8. Phone & Fax Numbers
9. Email Address
These details facilitate the due process and the release of winnings without unnecessary delays and complications in the processing of your winnings.

All winnings must be claimed not later than 20 working days. After which, all unclaimed funds will be included in the next stake. You are to keep all lottery information especially your reference and ticket numbers away from the general public. (This is important to avoid double claims).

Yours Sincerely,

Mrs. Helen Spencer. (Lottery Coordinator/Award Team)
(www.palaceofbingo.com)

N.B., Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will result to disqualification.
Please do not reply to this mail. Contact your Claims agent immediately.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam