419 scam: "Zurich Lotterien" <zurichlotterien@outlook.com> Congratulations: You Have Won One Million Euros

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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.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
- ",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)
- "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)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
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.
- zurich.lotterien@hotmail.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Zurich Lotterien" <zurichlotterien@outlook.com>
Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2013 21:28:18 +0700 (ICT)
Subject: Congratulations: You Have Won One Million Euros

Zurich Lotterien
Central Office.
Management and Central Services:
Weg 205 B - 02241, zum Erfolgreichen, Switzerland.

Zürich Lotterien draws was conducted from an exclusive list of
20,000,000 e-mail addresses of individual and corporate bodies picked by
an automated random computer ballot search from the internet as part of
our international promotions program which we conduct every year. No
tickets were sold.

After this automated computer ballot, your e-mail address attached to
serial number 07-11-80 drew the lucky numbers 8-29-41-20-02-33, which
consequently emerged you as one of first ten (10) lucky winners in the
United Kingdom category.

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay off of 1,000,000.00
(One Million Euros) in cash credited to file ZL/03/4013. This is from
total cash prize of 50 Million Euro shared amongst the first fifty- (50)
lucky winners all around the world. Your funds are now deposited in an
offshore bank with a hardcover insurance.

Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European
booklet representative office in London. In view of this, our affiliate
bank in the Europe would release your 1,000,000.00 (One Million Euros) to
you in the United Kingdom.

To claim your prize funds, you are required to come directly to our London
office. If you have problems with coming to our office you can make a wire
transfer of your funds to your private bank account. You can also employ
the use of a courier service delivery to deliver your funds to your home
address.

For a telegraphic transfer of your funds to your private bank account, you
are required to send your name and address in full, phone number, bank
name, bank address, next of kin, account number, Swift/Routing/Sort Code,
so as to facilitate the release of your funds to your stated bank account.

For a courier service delivery ,you are required to send your name, phone
number, information of next of kin, mailing address(home or office
address), so as to facilitate the release of your Funds to your desired
address.

You are required to send the necessary information as regards your chosen
option to our help line below:

Zurich Lotterien
Payment Bureau:
London Representative Office,
Help Service Contact,
E-mail:zurich03@outlook.com
zurich.lotterien@hotmail.co.uk

You will be assisted in the processing and remittance of your prize funds
as regards your chosen option.

Note that all prize funds must be claimed not later than 20 days. After
this date all funds will be returned to the LOTTERY TREASURY as unclaimed.
please endeavor to quote your Reference Number:ZL/07/4007 and Lucky
numbers:4-11-41-26-02-62 in every correspondence with your help service.

Congratulations once again from all members of our staff and thanks for
being part of our promotions program.

Mrs. Kirt Loberg.
Promotions Manager.
Zurich Lotterien

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam