419 scam: "Hello check your mail"<infolaprimilotto@gmail.com> Hello read your mail

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "a security company " (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. )
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "foreign service manager" (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 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.
- mutuaseguros.esp@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Hello check your mail" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mutuaseg.desk@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:18:23 +0100
Subject: Hello read your mail

PLAZA DE COLON
E-47780,
MADRID, SPAIN
DATE: 09/03/2010.

FROM THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION/PRIZE AWARD DEPT.

ATTENTION: BENEFICIARY,

REF NO: ESC/11500369/26/ NC
BATCH NO: SLI/018/10

AWARD NOTIFICATION.
This is to inform you on the release of the LA PRIMITIVA SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY PROGRAMME held on the 18TH FEBUARY, 2010 Due to mix up of numbers and E-MAIL addresses, the result were released on the 2ND MARCH, 2010
Your name attached to ticket number 015-11-161-392-600 with serial number 3103-06 drew the lucky numbers 23-35-05-11-77-32 which consequently won the lottery. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of EURO €715,810.00 (SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND TEN EUROS ONLY) in cash credited to file with REF NO: ESC/11500369/26/EC and BATCH NO: SLI/018/10. This is from a total cash prize of EURO (€12,168.770).Shared among 17 (Seventeen) international winners in all categories. CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Your fund is now deposited with a security company insured in your name. Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep this award from public notice until your claim has been processed and your money remitted to your account as this is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unwarranted taking of an advantage of this programme by participants and non participants.

All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 25,000 E-mail Addresses from Asia, Australia, Europe, New Zealand, North America and South America as part of our International promotions programmed, which we conduct once every year. We hope your lucky name will draw a bigger cash prize in the next year's high stake of €1.3 BILLION EUROS.

To begin your claim, please contact your claims agent, LUIS DOMINGO. The Foreign Service Manager of MUTUA SEGUROS S.A. TEL: +34693686760 E-MAIL: mutuaseguros.esp@gmail.com for the processing and remittance of your winning prize money to a designated account of your choice. Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than 30TH OF MARCH, 2010, after this date all funds will be returned to the MINISTERIO DE ECONOMIA Y HACIENDA as unclaimed. And also be informed that 2.5% of your Lottery Winning will be paid to MUTUA SEGUROS S.A for their services to you. This (2.5%) will be remitted after you have received your money because this money is already insured in your name and can not be deducted until you receive it.

NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in every correspondence with your agent. Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform your claims agent as soon as possible.

Congratulations once again from all our staffs and board members.

YOURS SINCERELY,
ÁGUEDA RAFAEL.

VICE PRESIDENT.
La primitive sweepstake lottery.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam