419 scam: STAR LOTTERY AWARD <elkwood415@gmail.com> STAR LOTTERY AWARD NOTIFICATION / PROCESSING ADVICE:

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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- " lotto international " (no such lottery exists)
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "from: the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- ",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)
- ",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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 00447924587439
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.
- elkwood415@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: STAR LOTTERY AWARD <elkwood415@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2013 21:31:18 +0900 (JST)
Subject: STAR LOTTERY AWARD NOTIFICATION / PROCESSING ADVICE:

hiFROM: THE DESK OF THE DIRECTOR OF PROMOTIONS,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,
REF: AST341739DS
12 BRIDGE STREET,
STAINS MIDDLESEX TW18 4TP
UNITED KINGDOM.

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today 11
December,2013 of winners of the STAR LOTTO INTERNATIONAL
PROGRAMS held on 8 December, 2013 You / your company,
attached to ticket number 013-2316-2002-477, with serial
number A025-09 drew the lucky numbers 37-13-34-85-56-42, and
consequently won in category B.You have
therefore been approved for a lump sum pay of
US$2,500,000.00 in cash credited to file REF NO. REF:
AST341739DS.

This is from total prize money of US$15,000,000.00 shared
among the six (6) international winners in the category B.

All participants were selected through a computer ballot
system drawn from 30,000 names from Australia, New Zealand,
America, Asia, Europe, USA and North America as part our
International Promotions Program, which is conducted
monthly.

Your fund is now deposited with the Finance and Security
section and insured in your name. Due to the mix up of some
numbers and names, we ask that you keep this award strictly
from public notice until your claim has been processed and
your money remitted to your account.

This is part of our security protocol to avoid double
claiming or unscrupulous acts by participants of this
program.We hope with a part of you prize, you will
participate in our end of year high stakes US$1.3 billion
International lotto.

To begin your claim, please contact your claims officer
immediately:
MR ELKOO WOOD
CLAIM AGENT
Tel:0044-792-458-7439
Fax:0044-709-287-3399
Email:elkwood415@gmail.com

For due processing and remittance of your prize money to a
designated account of your choice, kindly provide him with
the following information:
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and
complications, please remember to quote your reference
number in every one of your correspondences with your
officer.

Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do
inform your claims officer as soon as possible.
Congratulations again from all our staff and thank you for
being part of our promotions program.
Sincerely,

THE DIRECTOR OF PROMOTIONS
MR.COHEN SMITH
STAR LOTTERY
N.B. Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the
winners will result to
disqualification.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam