419 scam: Mr. Frank Bernett <lottoertywin@lotto.com> Reference Number: GF.BDX.039.XTC

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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:
- "claim 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 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.
- wfoundationlottery2012@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Mr. Frank Bernett <lottoertywin@lotto.com>
Reply-To: wfoundationlottery2012@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2012 12:46:49 +0200
Subject: Reference Number: GF.BDX.039.XTC

Winner's Choice Foundation Lottery:

>From Winner's Choice Foundation Lottery in Association with Life World LLC !

We are happy to announce to you that you have won award of $850,000 GBP at the South Africa Payment Center.

Ticket Number: 51-09-95-09-83-5
Serial Number: 90-Q72
Batch Number: CN/ZTG/040/203D
Reference Number: GF.BDX.039.XTC

Your email address/name attached to a ticket number: 51-09-95-09-83-5 with the serial number: 90-Q72 drew the lucky number: 51-09-95-09-83-5 which consequently won the draw in the 1st category. Your email address was among the (10) email addresses chosen to receive grand prize of US$850,000.00 each in this section.

Therefore you must contact your Claim Agent.

Mr. Frank Bernett
Email: wfoundationlottery2012@yahoo.com
Winner's Choice Foundation Lottery
Address: South Africa International Center

He will need to confirm everything we have on file to ensure that there will be no set backs upon the release of these funds to you. I want you to know that verification and confirmation of all of your payment documents have been sent to our affiliate company, the International Lottery Board of Commissions from our processing office. Also, be rest assured that your winning will be sent to you as (ATM Card or Bank Transfer) which can be used in any ATM machine worldwide.

This will be issued from our paying bank. Your won prize cannot be deducted, simply because this is a promotional award, until prize is released to you due to strict insurance policy. After you have received your money, we expect you to use some of the money to spread Internet knowledge within your locality and remember to support our next promotion.

We have seven clearance offices zoned continentally AUSTRALIA, CHINA,Malaysia, LONDON, Germany, Thailand & ALGERIA.

Clearance zones are picked randomly by computer, each winning number falls within any of the clearance zones picked. It is the duty of the approved zonal clearance officer to handle all clearance processes to make sure bank releases won prize in time.

If Your prize number falls within African region,your payment will be handled at our clearance office in South Africa .

Your clearance agent will facilitate payment process immediately you contact him. Contact with your information below:

Full Name:
Marital Status:
Age:
Occupation:
Home Phone:
Mobile Phone:
City/Country:
Nationality:
Ref No:
Batch No:
Congratulations once more!!!
Mrs. Rita James
Lottery Cordinator
Winner's Choice Foundation

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam