419 scam: "AUSTRALIAN LOTTERY INC" <regionalloto@hotmail.co.uk> CONGRATULATIONS, YOU HAVE WON $500,000.00 USD

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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:
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "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.
- australiadepartment22@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "AUSTRALIAN LOTTERY INC" <regionalloto@hotmail.co.uk>
Reply-To: CONGRATULATIONS@vmx100.multikabel.net,
"YOU HAVE WON" <$500@vmx100.multikabel.net>,
"000.00" <USD@vmx100.multikabel.net>
Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2011 15:58:41 +0100 (CET)
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS, YOU HAVE WON $500,000.00 USD

ROM THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARDS
DEPARTMENT AUSTRALIA SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY CO-OPORATION;

Date: 2th March 2011
(1)Reference Number: 5687SPL876
(2)Batch Number: 7056490902/188
(3)Wining Number: GB8701/LPRC

We are happy to inform you that your email address has won the sum of
$500,000.00USD today 2th March 2011 through Electronic selection of Emails
from Australia Lottery International 2011.

Draws the line was carried out by a random selection of email Addresses
from an exclusive list of 29,031 email addresses Natural and legal persons
elected by an advanced automated Computer search randomly from Canada,
Australia, United States, Asia, Europe, Middle East and Oceania, as part
of our international promotions Program that is held annually on the
Internet However, none of the tickets Sold but all email addresses were
assigned to different Ticket numbers representation and privacy.

Name ; DR QUEST RALPH ;Claims Agent West Africa.
Email: australiadepartment22@gmail.com

Your winning information falls in Nigeria West Africa therefore should
contact our Regional Claims Agent who is representing us in Nigeria West
Africa through his email address for transferring your winning prize
money.

How to Claim Prize; simply contact our regional claims Agent in Nigeria
West Africa,
Name; DR QUEST RALPH
Email address; australiadepartment22@gmail.com

To file for your claim, Please quote your Reference, Batch and Winning
number which can be found on the top of this notification;
You should send your personal information to your claims agent as follows;

1. Full Name…
2. Address…
3. Nationality…
4. Age...Date of Birth...SEX.............
5. Occupation...
6. Home Tel... Mobile Tel...Fax...
7. State of Origin...Country...

E-mail your claims agent immediately
DR QUEST RALPH; Claims Agent in Nigeria West Africa.
Email: australiadepartment22@gmail.com

Note, all winnings must be claimed before 30th March 2011; otherwise all
funds will be returned back as Unclaimed and eventually donated to charity
organization.

Mrs. Lisa Moore
Australia Lottery Co-coordinator.
(Announcer).
Mrs. Rose Scoth
Online Co-coordinator Secretary
LOTTERY SPONSOR
AUSTRALIA LOTTERY PROMOTION

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam