419 scam: "Mrs. Rita Hopkins" <claimagentoffice2009@gmail.com> Gold Rush Claiming Online Promotions

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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:
- "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "gordonmorgan@gala.net" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "gordonmorgan@gala.net" (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!
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.
- +27836876562 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Rita Hopkins" <claimagentoffice2009@gmail.com>
Reply-To: <gordonmorgan@gala.net>
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 01:41:15 -0800
Subject: Gold Rush Claiming Online Promotions

Gold Rush Claiming Online Promotions
Eastern-Cape, 8001
South Africa.

Congratulations!!!! "You have won US$2,870,000.00 from Gold Rush Online Promotions"

For Claiming, Urgently call or contact;

Mr. Gordon Morgan
Tel: +27 83 687 6562
E-mail:gordonmorgan@gala.net

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

We wish you success in our Gold Rush Claiming Online Promotions/Email Internet Program made today which was held on 29th of December 2009. Your Email Address was attached to Ticket No: 34,11,43,27,29,06 Drew the Lucky No: 4 6 9 30 33 49 Bonus 13 from 800,000 Email Addresses consequently won in the 2nd Category. You have therefore been approved to claim a Star Prize of $2,870,000.00 in cash credited to File No:6712314/ZAR/2009.Below is your Winning Details;
For more information about your winning, kindly call or send an email to our Claim Agent officer for the urgent release of your prize fund to you.

Reference No: 12-15-19-27-39/MOP/09
Batch No: 5-6-4/21/MOP/09
Amount Won: US$2,870,000.00

Send him bellow details about you for verification.

NAME:..................... ..........................
ADDRESS:...........................................
NATIONALITY:................................................
SEX:.........................................................
AGE:........................ ..............................
PHONE/MOBILE:...... ....................................
FAX:................................................
OCCUPATION:......... ..............................
COMPANY:........................................

"The Validity period of the winnings is (7) Working Days, of your reply to the Agency; hence you are expected to make your claims immediately, any claim not made before this date will be returned as UNCLAIMED."To claim your winning prize, you are to contact the appointed agent for the immediate release of your winnings:
For Claiming, Urgently call or contact him via email;
Mr. Gordon Morgan
Tel: +27 83 687 6562
E-mail:gordonmorgan@gala.net

Congratulations'' once again from all our Staff and thank you for being part of our Promotions Program.
Yours Truly,

Mrs.Rita Hoppkins
Promotions Manager
Gold Rush Claiming Online Promotions
South Africa
Copy Right (C) 2009(Reg No: 2000/003778/09)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam