419 scam: <office_diamond@virgilio.it> INFO DIAMOND LOTTERY!!!ASE READ!!et> CONGRATULATIONS!!! AWARD WIPŒë¸"

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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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "from: the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
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.
- +31647218541 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- smithfirmll@netscape.net (Netscape; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: <office_diamond@virgilio.it>
Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2005 13:18:11 +0100 (GMT+01:00)
Subject: INFO DIAMOND LOTTERY!!!

INFO DIAMOND LOTTERY!!!
FROM: THE DESK OF THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
INFODIAMOND LOTTO PROMO LOTTERY, NETHERLANDS AWARD DEPARTMENT
HOLLAND
HEAD OFFICE
SNELLERWAARDGRACHT 12,
1107 EJ GAASPERDAM, AMSTERDAM,

REF:
041238013011JLP
BATCH: 0034712-EX

Dear Winner,

AWARD
NOTIFICATION/FINAL PAYMENT NOTICE.

We are pleased to inform you of the
announcement today, 20th December, 2005, of Winners of the JURIST PROMO
LOTTERY, NETHERLANDS, draws held on 19th December, 2005.

Your email
address attached to ticket number 023-0148-790-459, with serial number
8973-20 drew the lucky numbers 09-44-44-67-27-11, and consequently won
the lottery in the 3rd category.

You have therefore been approved for
lump sum pay Out of ($1.000.000.00) One Million United State Dollars in
cash credited to file REF No.041238013011JLP. This is from total prize
Money Of ($20.000.000.00) Twenty-Million, United State Dollars shared
among the twenty.

International winners in this category.

All
participants were selected through a computer Ballot System drawn from
25,000 email addresses from Australia, New Zealand, America, Europe,
North America and Asia as Part of International Promotions Program,
which is Conducted Annually.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Due to the mix up of
some numbers and addresses, we ask that you keep this Award strictly
from Public notice until your claim has been processed and released to
you.

This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming by
participants of this program. We hope with a part of your prize, you
will participate in our end of year high stakes $500 Million
International Lottery.

To begin your claim, please contact our
Director, Claims and legal adviser::

SMITH LAW FIRM NL
Advocate Mr.
Van Der Gooi
Advocate Mrs. G.F Saskia
Dr. Edward Makad
Email:
smithfirmll@netscape.net
Tel: Tel:+31-647-218-541 Fax: +31-847-556-223

This office will process and ensure the release of your won prize
Money.

Note that all prize money must be claimed not later than 29th
December, 2005. After this date, all funds shall be returned to our
treasury as unclaimed prize money.

In order to avoid unnecessary delay
and complications, please remember to quote your Reference and batch
numbers in every of your correspondence with our legal adviser/officer.

Congratulations once again!

Yours faithfully,

Mrs. Ruth Peterson
The Promotions Manager.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam