419 scam: "MEGA-MILLONES LOTTERY"<info@loterianacional.com> RE: AWARD NOTIFICATION / FINAL NOTICE

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- ",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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "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. )
- "casco_madrid@ymail.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!
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.
- +34634958157 (Spain, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- casco@representative.com (Representative; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "MEGA-MILLONES LOTTERY" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mega-millones@qatar.io>
Date: Wed, 12 May 2010 17:15:13 +0200
Subject: RE: AWARD NOTIFICATION / FINAL NOTICE

FROM THE DESK OF THE MANAGING DIRECTOR
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
Avda. Juan Real 25
C.P. 28002 Madrid Spain

Dear Beneficiary

RE: AWARD NOTIFICATION / FINAL NOTICE

We are pleased to inform you about the results of THE MEGA-MILLONES LOTTERY PROMOTIONAL PROGRAMME dated 24th of APRIL 2010, which lately released on 11TH MAY of 2010 as part of our yearly bonanza. Your Email address attached to the Winning numbers: 03 15 17 32 36 45, Ticket Nº: 013220, Batch Nº: 82640-0 and Ref Nº: ELC/0067060221/01 has consequently won the lottery on the second category.

CONGRATULATION!!!
Your winning amount is (€1,000,000.00 Euros) in cash, to be paid through one of the following payment options as stated below:
(A)CERTIFIED CHEQUE (B) BANK TRANSFER (C) PERSONAL

Registration and payment of your winning amount is insured in your name for security reasons and will be released for payment by THE INTERNATIONAL BANK after data’s clarifications and submission of beneficiary details to receive your winning prize money.

All registered participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 250,000 email addresses from Europe, America, Australia, Asia, and North America as part of our international promotions program, which we conduct once every year. We hope with a part of your prize, you will take part in our end of year high stake € 1.3 billion International Lottery.

Due to mixed up of names, we urge you to keep this award CONFIDENTIAL until your claim has been processed and your cash remitted to your desired OPTION OF PAYMENT, as this is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unscrupulous acts by non participants on taking advantage of this program.

For the claim processing and remittance of your prize money to your chosen option of payment, kindly contact your claim’s agent from CASCO SECURITY COMPANY

MR MARIO JOHNSON.
FOREIGN OPERATION MANAGER
CASCO SECURITY COMPANY MADRID, SPAIN.
Telephone number: +34 634 958 157
Email: casco_madrid@ymail.com OR Email: casco@representative.com

Furthermore, should there be any change in your address, do inform your Claims officer as soon as possible. Complete the form below and send it to the claims officer via email:

Full name:
Date of birth:
Sex:
Marital status:
Email:
Occupation:
Nationality:
Lotto Batch Number:
Lotto Reference Numbers:
Phone Number:
Address:
Country of Residence:
Select mode of collection of winning prize ABOVE

Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than 18TH of June 2010, after this date all unclaimed winning amounts will be returned to the MINISTERIO DE HACIENDA as expired.

Sincerely,
MR JOSE BONO
Managing Director
info@loterianacional.com

Anti-fraud resources:

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