419 scam: "Westdeutsche Lotterie" <info@lotterie.com> Reference Number: WL/GmbH-23/07-OHG

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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:
- "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- ",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)
- "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.
- +447045747569 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
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.
- post_jamie1@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Westdeutsche Lotterie" <info@lotterie.com>
Reply-To: post_jamie3@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2009 06:37:54 -0400
Subject: Reference Number: WL/GmbH-23/07-OHG

Westdeutsche Lotterie GmbH & Co. OHG
Central Office
Management and Central Services:
Rosenstrasse 12-16
DE - 70156 Stuttgart
Germany

Reference Number: WL/GmbH-23/07-OHG
Batch: WL/07

GmbH/9907 Congratulations!!! We are

pleased to inform you of the result of

the
just concluded annual final draws of the

Westdeutsche Lotterie GmbH & Co.
OHG Program.

Westdeutsche Lotterie GmbH & Co. OHG

draws was conducted from an exclusive
list of 25,000,000 e-mail addresses of

individual and corporate bodies picked
by an advanced automated random computer

ballot search from the internet as part
of our international promotions program

which we conduct every year. No
tickets were sold. After this automated

computer ballot, your e-mail address
attached to serial number 07-9907 drew

the lucky numbers 9-11-25-30-38-46 which
consequently emerged you as one of first

fifty (50) lucky winners in this
category. You have therefore been

approved for a lump sum payout of
€1,000,000.00 (One Million EURO) in cash

credited to file WL/GmbH-23/07-OHG.
This is from a total cash prize of €50

Million Euro shared amongst the first
fifty (50) lucky winners in this

category.

These funds is given to you for your

business,educational and personal
development, and at least 10% to be used

by you to develop part of your
enviroment, which is a measure of

universal development strategy, and
eradication of poverty. This year Lottery

Program Jackpot is the largest ever
for Westdeutsche Lotterie GmbH & Co. OHG.

The estimated €50 million
jackpot would be the sixth-biggest in

Europe history. The biggest was the €363
million jackpot that went to two winners

in a Febuary 2003 drawing of The Big
Game Mega Millions' predecessor. The

idea of this lottery program is that
within ten years from now, there will be

notable richness among many unusual
people around the world. This will give

many people the opportunity to kick
start their lives to a stage where they

had always wanted. Your fund is now
deposited in an offshore bank with a

hardcover insurance. Due to the mix up of
some numbers,names and e-mail addresses,

we advice that you keep
this award from public notice until your

claim has been processed and your
money remitted to your nominated bank

account as this is part of our security
protocol to avoid double claiming or

unwarranted taking advantage of this
program by the general public.

Please note that your lucky winning

number falls within our booklet
representative office in London. In view

of this, your €1,000,000.00 (One
Million Euro) would be released to you by

our affiliate bank in London. Our
agent will immediately commence the

process to facilitate the release of your
funds to you as soon as you make contact

with him.

To begin your claim please contact our

licensed and accredited agent assigned
to you:

Mr.Jamie Ryan
Westdeutsche Lotterie GmbH & Co. OHG
Lotto Payment Release Order Dept:
London Representative Office.
Phone: +44-704-574-7569

E-mail: post_jamie1@yahoo.com.hk

Your claims agent will assist you in the

processing and remittance of your
prize funds into your designated bank

account.

Note that all prize funds must be claimed

not later than 3 weeks. After this
date all funds will be returned to the

LOTTERY TREASURY as unclaimed. In order
to avoid unnecessary delays and

complications, please endeavor to quote

your
Reference Number:WL/GmbH-23/07-OHG and

Batch numbers:WL/07- GmbH/9907 in every
correspondence with your agent.

Furthermore, should there be any change

in your
address, do inform your claims agent as

soon as possible.

Members of the affiliate agencies are

automatically not allowed to participate
in this program. Congratulations once

again from all members of our staff and
thanks for being part of our promotions

program.

Yours faithfully,
Mrs.Susi Cristoph
Promotions Manager.
Westdeutsche Lotterie GmbH & Co. OHG.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam