419 scam: "Mr. Richard West"<arielsbertis@universia.edu.ve> SPAM

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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:
- "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- ",500,000" (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)
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.
- custserv.ices@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <custserv.ices@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 04:16:27 -0800
Subject: SPAM > Edencrest Loterijen

EDENCREST LOTTERY HEADQUARTERS: CUSTOMER SERVICE,
*******************************************
AMSTELVEENSEWEG 93, 1075VS AMSTERDAM
*******************************************
Ref: FJP/7362981041/17/KGI
Batch: 27/58/0641

ATTN: WINNING NOTIFICATION

We happily announce to you the draw of the Edencrest Lottery International programs held on the 19 of
January , 2015 in Amsterdam. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 872 82435197 164 with Serial
number 7792/11 drew the lucky numbers: 13-8-47-21-33-9, which subsequently won you the lottery in the
2nd category. You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of €1,500,000.00 (one million, Five
hundred Thousand Euros) cash credited to your file KPC/9080118308/02/TCA. This is from a total cash
prize of € 125 Million Euros shared among st the First fifty (50) lucky winners in this grand category.

This year Lottery Program Jackpot is the largest ever for Edencrest Lottery. The estimated €125 million
jackpot would be the sixth-biggest in European history. The biggest was the €363 million jackpot that went
to two winners in a May 2012 drawing of The Big Game Mega Millions' predecessor.

Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet representative office in
Amsterdam as indicated in our play coupon. In view of this, your €1,500,000.00 (One million, Five hundred
thousand, Euros) would be released to you physically by our affiliate Bank. Our agent will immediately
commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds to you as soon as you make contact with
him.

All participants were selected randomly from 'World Wide Web' site through computer draw system and
extracted from over 100,000 email addresses. This promotion takes place annually. For security reasons,
you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims is processed and your money
remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize. This is a part of our precautionary
measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements.

Please be warned. To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent with the below details for
processing of your claims.
******************************************************************
Name: Mr. Richard West
E-mail:custserv.ices@yahoo.com.hk
Foreign Services Manager, Payment and Release order Department,
******************************************************************
Note that all claims process and clearance procedures must be duly completed early to avoid impersonation
arising to the issue of double claim.

To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please quote your reference/batch numbers in any
correspondences with us or our designated agent.
Congratulations once more from all members and staffs of this program.

Yours faithfully,
Mrs. Angela Smith
Edencrest Lottery Promotions Coordinator.

PS: Complete form below:
1:FullName............................................
2:Address.............................................
3:Tel/Fax.............................................
4:occupation..........................................
5:Date of Birth.......................................

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam