419 scam: "INTERNET PROMO" YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS WON THE LOTTERY.

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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")
- "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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.
- riccardo.maxwel@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "INTERNET PROMO" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <interpromo45@yahoo.com.my>
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2012 17:39:29 +0800
Subject: YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS WON THE LOTTERY.

Attn: Email Owner,

We are pleased to inform you again of the result of the Internet Promotional
Draws. All email addresses entered for this promotional draws were randomly
inputted from an internet resource database using the Synchronized Random
Selection System (SRSS).

This is our second letter to you.Your email address was selected in the Category
A with Swift Reference Code: HK404723/IT and Swift Ticket Code: FFT212/2011-12,
and this qualifies you to be the recipient of the grand prize award sum of Two
million, five hundred thousand united States dollars.

The payout of this cash prize to you will be subject to the final validations
and satisfactory report that you are the bona fide owner of the winning email
address. In line with the governing rules of claim, you are required to
establish contact with your designated claims agent via email or telephone with
the particulars below:

Enquiry officer: Riccardo Maxwell
Phone: +60169831471
Email:riccardo.maxwel@hotmail.com

You may establish contact with the Enquiry Officer via the e-mail address above
with the information's necessary: Name:, Address:, Phone:, Cell Phone:, Email:,
Alternative Email:, Occupation:, Swift Reference Code: and Swift Ticket Code:

Failure to complete the claims of your cash prize after 14 days of this notice
will result in the revision of award. Hence, you should commence your claims
process immediately, by contacting the Claims Officer (Riccardo Maxwell) who
would be guiding you through the Claims process.

Note: All replies should be addressed to Mr. Riccardo Maxwell
(riccardo.maxwel@hotmail.com) for further information, any reply sent to other email
will not be attended to.

Please take note.

Yours Faithfully,
Lucia Alberto
Promotion Director

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam