419 scam: "Maria Brisimis"<alpha.bnk@mail.gr> You are advised to

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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:
- "claims agent" (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)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
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.
- gt_trust@yahoo.gr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Maria Brisimis" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <gt_trust@yahoo.gr>
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:58:51 +0300
Subject: You are advised to

WORLD INTERNET LOTTO CENTRE
EASTERN AVE 6528
INTERNATIONAL PRIZE AWARD UNIT.
PROMOTING SITE USAGE OVER THE GLOBE
( WE ENCOURAGE GLOBALIZATION)

Dear Lucky Winner,
CONSOLATION PRIZE WINNING NOTICE!!!
Congratulations to you as we bring to your notice, the results of the First Category draws of E-MAIL LOTTERY organized Empowered by GOOGLE COMPANY. We are happy to inform you that you have emerged a winner under the First Category, which is part of our promotional draws. The draws were held and officially announced on 23rd of July 2009. Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 2,500,000 email addresses of individuals and companies from all over the world as part of our International Promotions Program. Your e-mail address, attached to ticket number 002734647/28495, with serial number 662-035 drew the lucky numbers 3-2-3-8819-0248 and consequently won in the First Category. You have therefore been awarded a lump sum pay out of One Million Euro (€ 1,000,000.00) which is the winning payout for Category A winners. This is from the total prize money from 1,500,000 Euro shared among the 2 winners in this category. €1,000,000 and € 500,000 respectively.
Your fund is now deposited with the paying Bank. We request that you keep the entire details of your award strictly from public notice until the process of transferring your claims has been completed, and your funds remitted to your account. This is part of our security protocol.
To file for your claim, kindly contact your CLAIMS Agent.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Barr. Anthony Savvas.
Glass Trust Claims Agency
TEL: +30 699 478 2255
Email: gt_trust@yahoo.gr
ATHENS GREECE
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
You are advised to contact the agents by email.
NOTE: For easy reference and identification, find below your reference and Batch numbers. Remember to quote these numbers in every one of your correspondence with your claims agent. Reference Nr: JCW/384-ULLT17093/09. Batch Nr: WILT/07/02845/XOSB. Congratulations once again from all our staff.

Yours Sincerely,
MRS. MARIA BRISIMIS.
(PROMOTION COORDINATOR)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam