419 scam: "Mr.David West" <info@lee.com> ONLINE LOTTERY WINNER!!!!!

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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:

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:
- "fudiciary" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
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.
- darrell_schmitter@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.David West" <info@lee.com>
Reply-To: <darrell_schmitter@aol.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2014 05:20:59 +0300
Subject: ONLINE LOTTERY WINNER!!!!!

CHOOSE AN OPTION BELOW IN OTHER TO RECEIVE YOUR WINNING FUNDS.

Attention: Winner

After the ECOWAS Office today, an online E-Mail Raffle Draw has given a
won prize of $8.3M (Eight Million Three Hundred Thousand United State
Dollars) in cash credited to file KTU/31276508175/13 to three (3) active
internet users and you were lucky to be one of the users who emerged as a
winner with your Winning Number: ECWS09788. Your Claim agent Mr. Darrell
Schmitter have been assigned to assist you in claiming your won prize as
soon as possible and will be released to you in record time.

You are therefore advice to contact Mr. Darrell Schmitter directly on the
email address (darrell_schmitter@aol.com) with the below information
for quick transfer of your won prize of $8.3M (Eight Million Three Hundred
Thousand United State Dollars) to you without delay.

1. Full Name
2. Country.
3. Contact Address.
4. Phone, Mobile numbers.
5. Age/Sex.
6. Marital Status.
7. Occupation/Job title.
8. Winning Number.
9. Amount Won.
10.Nextof Kin (If available)
11.Winning Email.

CHOOSE AN OPTION BELOW IN OTHER TO RECEIVE YOUR WINNING FUNDS.

1. BANK TRANSFER:
2. COURIER DELIVERY:

Now how would you like to receive your payment?

ATM Card ( $425 ): We will be issuing you a custom pin based ATM card which you will use to withdraw up to $3,000 per day from any ATM machine that has the Master Card Logo on it and the card have to be renewed in 2 years time which is 2016. Also with the ATM card you will be able to transfer your funds to your local bank account. The ATM card comes with a handbook or manual to enlighten you about how to use it. Even if you do not have a bank account.

WIRE TRANSFER ( $1,275 ) : Your $8.3M ( Eight Million Three Hundred Thousand United State Dollars) to be wired directly into your account in less than 24hours after the operation have been fully endorsed and the transfer charges is paid,then there won't be any reason to hinder the wire transfer of fund into your desired account.

DECLARATION:

I....................Hereby Declare that the above data are true in case
of any unforseen circustance, my next of kin has the right to claim the
total won prize. (Fudiciary agent shall act as my agent in facilitating the
release of the total fund to me. DATE: ________________

Congratulations once again on your winnings!!!

Looking forward to your swift response.

Yours Faithfully,

Mr.David West
Online Co-ordinator

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam