419 scam: =?ISO-8859-1?Q?THE_FREE_LOTTO_COMPANY=A9?= <info@free-lotto.com> =?ISO-8859-1?Q?WINNER=A9?=

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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:
- "million dollars" (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)
- "gbf-intl.ferry-terry@live.co.uk" (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.
- +448712422355 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- +447553862310

Fraud email example:

From: =?ISO-8859-1?Q?THE_FREE_LOTTO_COMPANY=A9?= <info@free-lotto.com>
Reply-To: gbf-intl.ferry-terry@live.co.uk
Date: Thu, 8 Apr 2010 05:02:10 +0100
Subject: =?ISO-8859-1?Q?WINNER=A9?=

THE FREE LOTTO COMPANY©
Airport House,
Purley Way,
Croydon,
CR0 0XZ.
United Kingdom

GBF/INT'L.:CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Attn: Winner.

You have won the sum of £750,000.00 (Great British Pounds) from the GBF INTERNATIONAL/FREELOTTO COMPANY OF UNITED KINGDOM©,I wish to announce you as one of the 3RD lucky winners in the Free Lotto draw held on the 1st OF April 2010. Your email address emerged along side 3 others as a 2nd category winner in this year's Annual Free Lotto Draw.

NEW YEAR BONANZA:
FIRST PRIZE: £1,500.000.00
2ND PRIZE: £,850,000.00
3RD PRIZE: £750, 000.00

The Free Lotto Awards is proudly sponsored by the Microsoft Corporation©, the Intel Group©, Toshiba©, Dell computers© Mackintosh© and a conglomeration of other international IT companies. The free lotto internet xmas draw is held once in a year and is so organized to encourage the use of the internet and computers worldwide. We are proud to say that over 200 Million Dollars are won annually in more than 150 countries worldwide.

Contact Person.
Mr. Ferry Terry
TEL: +44 755 386 2310
FAX: +44 871 242 2355
EMAIL: gbf-intl.ferry-terry@live.co.uk

Requirements:
1. Name:
2. Address:
3. Age:
4. Sex:
5. Occupation:
6. Telephone Number:
7. Country of Residence:

Congratulations from me and members of staff of GBF INTERNATIONAL/FREELOTTO COMPANY© OF UNITED KINGDOM. Our winners are assured of the utmost standards of confidentiality,and press anonymity until the end of proceedings,and beyond where they so
desire.Be further advised to maintain the strictest level of confidentiality until the end of proceedings to circumvent problems associated with fraudulent claims.This is a part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Yours faithfully,
EXC. BARNSLEY PORT
Online coordinator for GBF INTERNATIONAL/FREELOTTO COMPANY© OF UNITED KINGDOM
Sweepstakes International Program©.

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam