419 scam: "INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS"<informdept@aim.com> HELLO.

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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "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)
- "deadline" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
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.
- annouceprograms@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <annouceprograms@aim.com>
Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:38:10 +0200
Subject: HELLO.

FROM:THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT.
ESPANYOL LOTTERY AWARD.
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
CALLE PIVON Y SANCHEZ NO 8 2B.
28014, MADRID, SPAIN.
------------------------------------------
REF NO: EJk /2551256004/10
BATCH NO: 010/50013ALSP
EMAIL ADDRESS TO CONTACT:annouceprograms@aim.com

Dear Sir/Madam,

We are pleased to inform you of the release of the results of the ESPANYOL LOTTERY/INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM held on the 27TH OF AUGUST 2010.Due to mix up of numbers and addresses, the result were released on the 30TH OF AUGUST 2010.Your e-mail address was attached to ticket number 90622089237-067 with serial number 169-470 drew lucky numbers 9-24-06-18-05-26, which consequently won in the 2nd category. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of €500,000.00(Euros)(Five Hundred thousand Euros only).

Your fund is now deposited with a security company insured in your name. we ask that you keep this award from public notice until your claim has been processed and your money remitted to your nominated account, as this is a part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unwarranted taking advantage of this program by participants.

All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 25,000 names from America , Asia, Africa, Europe, Canada and New Zealand as part of our international promotion program. This promotional program takes place every year, and is promoted and sponsored by eminent personalities like King Of Spain, Movistar Inc,San Miguel beers and other corporate organizations.

This is to encourage the use of the Internet and computers worldwide.We look forward to your active participation in our next year €50 million euros slot.

You are requested to contact our Lottery Agent(ALLIANZ SEGUROS SA) below to assist you with your winnings and subsequent payments. All winnings must be claimed not later than one month after the date of this notice. The deadline for this notice is the 29TH of SEPTEMBER 2010. Non-compliance within this time period may result in disqualification and insured prize returned to the MINISTERIO DE ECONOMIA Y HACIENDA as unclaimed winning funds.

Furthermore,should there be any change of address do inform our agent as soon as possible.Congratulations once more and thank you for being part of our promotional program.This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program. Please be warned!!!

To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent:
*Beneficiary Full name--------------------
*Address:---------------------------------
*City/State:------------------------------
*Nationality:-----------------------------
*Country Of Residence:--------------------
*Sex:-------------------------------------
*Email Address: --------------------------
*Tel: ------------------------------------
*Fax:-------------------------------------
*Occupation:------------------------------
*Next of Kin:-----------------------------
*Ticket Number----------------------------
*Serial Number----------------------------
*REF NO-----------------------------------
*BATCH NO---------------------------------
*Age: ------------------------------------
*AMOUNT WON:------------------------------
*In Figures: -----------------------------
*Mode Of Payment--------------------------

ALLIANZ SEGUROS SA AGENCY FOR ELGORDO ESPANYOL LOTTERY.

CONTACT PERSON:Mr Sirine Cesar
EMAIL ADDRESS:annouceprograms@aim.com
PHONE NUMBER:0034 634 192 271

Sincerely yours,

MRS MARIA LOPEZ DANIEL.
(LOTTERY COORDINATOR)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam