419 scam: "US Departmen"<usdvst@rediffmail.com> Dear winner, Re: Ref:AMERICAN DV2012 VISA LOTTERY PROGRAM RESULT.

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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.
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.
- usdv.cloffice@usa.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "US Departmen" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <usdvstgreen@live.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2012 05:58:28 -0000
Subject: Dear winner, Re: Ref:AMERICAN DV2012 VISA LOTTERY PROGRAM RESULT.

U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Kentucky Consular Center(KCC)
3505 North Highway 25W
Williamsburg KY,40768 U.S.A.

Case Number :6200DV/SNVPh700IU
PA Name: DV-2012 Winner
Preference Category: DIVERSITY VISA
Foreign State Chargeability: DV ELIGIBLE

AMERICAN DV-2012 VISA LOTTERY PROGRAM WINNER:CASE NUMBER 6200DV/SNVPh700IU

This success notification letter on your success in DV-2012 has been sent to you via e-mail owing to failed attempts at getting your response after the normal letter by post was sent. We are assuming that the letter has been lost en transit hence this as the last resort.

It is my pleasure to congratulate you on your success in the AMERICAN DV2012 VISA LOTTERY PROGRAM which was applied and processed by our Agency. You were selected as one of the lucky winners on our internet screening machine, for the DV2012 USA national visa lottery program. Your visa lottery winner's case number is DV2012/ID-6200DV/SNVPh700IU. In this respect, you are directed to forward to U.S Processing Department of States Officer Mr. Travor Blair via: email usdvlota@live.com the following requirements:

1. Your CURRENT contact address (Re-confirm for record purposes),
2. SCANNED copies of your RECENT passport photograph,

3. Telephone number,

4. Marital status,
5. Family Name,
6. Year of Birth.

The passport photograph must be taken within the last six months, and must be 35mmsq or 2 inches by 2 inches. You can also provide the passport photographs of your spouse and other dependents.

Further get in touch with the Clearance Officer Mrs. Angela Spiff Clinton through her e-mail usdv.cloffice@usa.com , for instructions on how to pay the $1,189.67 clearance/acceptance fees. The payment of the fees ensures that your file is cleared for processing.

Note that this country's Code of Conduct and Constitution Vol.176/866:Act 690SN guiding all immigration, and Green Card permit Agencies, dictates that 10 days after the dispatch of this e-mail, that all such notified winners who fail to comply to the provisions herein contained, shall lose the opportunity.

Thank you.

McHenry Donavan,
Diversity Visa Lottery Coordinator,
Bureau of Consular Affairs,
U.S Department of State.
Phone: +12064267443

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam