419 scam: "Mrs .Natalia Gomez"<courierdelivery66@gmail.com> SWEEPSTAKES PROMO

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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:

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:
- ",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)
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.
- +34698879021 (Spain, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs .Natalia Gomez" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <microsoftpromo1@postino.net>
Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2011 11:33:57 +0430
Subject: SWEEPSTAKES PROMO

FOREIGN OPERATION DEPARTMENT,
MICROSOFT CORPORATIONS SWEEPSTAKES PROMO.
Avenida de Concha Espina 1
ES-28036 Madrid Spain

File Number No: ES-545411/EURO.
Attn:winner

We the entire staffs of Microsoft Corporation wishes to congratulate you
for being one of the lucky winners in this season's lottery promotion.

All participants were selected through our Microsoft computer ballot
system drawn from 32,000 Names, 8,000 names from each continent, as part
of International "E-MAIL "Promotions Program, for our prominent MS WORD
user all over the world, and for the Continues use of E-mail. The
Microsoft internet E-mail draw is held periodically and is organized to
encourage the use of the Internet and promote computer literacy worldwide.

You are entitled to receive the grand reward of of €1,000,000:00 Only (One
Million Euros Only). For instructions to receive this amount, you should
establish contact with the Enquiry Officer using details stated below:

In your best interest, we request that you keep the entire details of your
award strictly from public notice until the process of transferring your
claims has been completed, and your funds transferred to you. This is to
protect winners and to avoid misappropriation of funds.

In pursuant to your Price collection, kindly complete the form below and
send email to the the processing officer below for due
processing and transfer of your Price money.

Mrs .Natalia Gomez
Tel:+34-698-879-021
Fax:+34 911 817 647
Email:(microsoftpromo1@postino.net)

(1) NAME OF BENEFICIARY:____________________________________
(2) WINNING NUMBERS:________________________________________
(3) EMAIL ADDRESS:__________________________________________
(4) TELEPHONE:______________________________________________
(5) FAX:____________________________________________________
(6) NATIONALITY:__________________________________________
(7) CITY:___________________________________________________
(8) COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE:___________________________________
(9) ADDRESS:________________________________________________
(10)OCCUPATION:_____________________________________________

CONGRATULATIONS;
Sweepstakes International Program.Free lotto.
Mr Jose Luis
Online coordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam