419 scam: "Mrs.Erica Brown" <info@uk.lotto.net> (no subject)

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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "uk national lottery" (can only win this lottery if you bought a ticket)
- "uk national lottery inc." (no such lottery exists)
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- ",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)
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.
- +447023018970 (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.
- frankofficeclaims@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs.Erica Brown" <info@uk.lotto.net> (may be fake)
Reply-To: claimsagent_office44@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sun, 21 Mar 2010 05:08:10 -0000 (GMT)
Subject:

The National Lottery
P O Box 1010
Liverpool, L70 1NL
UNITED KINGDOM
(Customer Services)
Ref: UK/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369

We happily announce to you the draw (P479) of the UK NATIONAL
LOTTERY,online Sweepstakes International program held on
15th,MARCH 2010.Your e-mail address attached to
ticket number:56475600545188 with Serial number 536 8/02 drew the lucky
numbers:1-2-5-8-24 With Thunder Ball(11). which subsequently won you the
lottery in the 2nd category.You have therefore been approved to claim a
total sum of £600,000 (Six hundred thousand
pounds sterlings) in cash credited to file KTU/9023118308/03.This is from
a total cash prize of £1,000,000 shared amongst the first Four (4) lucky
winners in this category.

All participants for the online version were selected randomly from World
Wide Web sites through computer draw system and extracted from over
100,000 unions,associations and corporate bodies that are listed
online.This promotion takes place weekly. Please note that your lucky
winning number falls within our European booklet representative
office in Europe as indicated in your play coupon.In view of this, your
£600,000 (Six hundred thousand pounds sterlings) would be released to you
by any of our payment office in Europe.

Our European agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the
release of your funds as soon as you contact him. For security reasons,you
are advised to keep your winning information confidential your claim is
processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit
to claim your prize.This is part of our
precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of
this program.This is part) of our precautionary measure to avoid double
claims and unwarranted abuse of this program.
Please be warned.

To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciaragent with your
complete details:

1. Full name
2. Sex
3. Country
4. State
5. Contact Address
6. Telephone Number
7. Marital Status
8. Occupation
9. Age
10.Nationality:

To file for your claim, please contact our fiducial agent:

Name Mr.Frank Hallington.
E-mail:frankofficeclaims@gmail.com
Telephone:+447023018970

CONGRATULATIONS FROM THE MEMBERS AND
STAFF OF UK NATIONAL LOTTERY.

Yours faithfully,
Mrs.Erica Brown

Online coordinator for UK NATIONAL LOTTERY Sweepstakes International
Program. Copyright )1994-2010 The UK National Lottery Inc.All rights
reserved. Terms of Service - Guidelines

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam