419 scam: "ROBERT HUNT"<roberthunt@itimes.com> ...FINAL NOTIFICATION:.... Redeem your winnings,awaiting your urgent response.T

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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:

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)
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "clearance fee" (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. )
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "roberthuntt@in.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "roberthuntt@in.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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!

Fraud email example:

From: "ROBERT HUNT" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <roberthuntt@in.com>
Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2009 05:06:35 -0800
Subject: ...FINAL NOTIFICATION:.... Redeem your winnings,awaiting your urgent response.Thank you !!!

Standard Trust Security Inc.
FROM THE DESK OF THE PRIZE DIRECTOR
ALLIANCE PROMOTIONS / PRIZE AWARD DEPT Date:Dec 18th 2009

Dear Sir/Madam,

RE: FINAL AWARD NOTIFICATION

Good Day! My name is Robert Hunt; the prize director representing the Standard trust lotto and sweepstakes
Claim Department. Further to our letter dated October 22nd 2009 in which you were informed of your
selection as the prize winner of our quarterly One hundred and fifty thousand dollars (US$150,000.00) award,
we are yet to receive any response from you. Every year we enter 50,000 names from different sweepstakes
and lottery databases worldwide including North America, and our network server indicates that you were
selected as a prize winner on October 2nd 2009 and you still have not claimed your winnings for the sum
of US$150, 000.00. Now we are required to notify you that if we do not hear from you within 3weeks from
the day this letter is sent, your file will be closed and you will no longer be able to claim your winnings.Usually
when a winner does not claim their money, there should be a note stating why before we can legally
close their file.

To elaborate further, this draw was held in Australia, where our head office is located. Your lot number drew
lucky numbers 5-10-15-24-31-45 which consequently won in the 2nd category. You have therefore been
approved for a lump sum pay out of US$150,000.00 at no extra cost to yourself from our North American
payment office located in Buffalo, New York should you claim within the 3week timeframe.

Now, we would like to explain to you the Federal and International regulations governing the personal collections
of cash prizes. Prize winnings are released to you as soon as your Clearance Fee is deducted and paid. That
will be the day that your cheque will be released from our remittance office. Your clearance fee is provided
for you and is a calculated amount based on the size of your win as required by Federal and International
regulations. Note that once your clearance fee is paid, you will receive your winnings in the form of a certified
check or if you request, by bank transfer directly into your bank account or any account nominated by you.

For security purpose and clarity, we strongly advise that you keep your winning information confidential until
your claims have been fully processed and your money remitted to you. This is part of our security protocol
to avoid double claims and unwarranted abuse of this program by some nominees.

So once again, Congratulations to you!!!! For more information please contact our main processing office in
London, UK at +44-772-476-2060.Ask for Robert Hunt or email :roberthuntt@in.com

Sincerely Yours,
Robert Hunt.
roberthuntt@in.com

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam