419 scam: "Mrs Maria Lopez" <marialopez@ozu.es> Dear Email Bearer

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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:
- "claims agent" (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)
- "esq.carlos_blanco@ozu.es" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "esq.carlos_blanco@ozu.es" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "esq.carlos_blanco@ozu.es" (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.
- +34672733493 (Spain, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs Maria Lopez" <marialopez@ozu.es>
Reply-To: esq.carlos_blanco@ozu.es
Date: Wed, 2 Jun 2010 04:02:12 +0300 (EEST)
Subject: Dear Email Bearer

FROM:THE DESK OF THE ONLINE INTERNATIONAL LOTTO MANAGER,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,
REF: EG/008045160078.
BATCH: 100000488/ES
CALLE JAPON 33 MADRID 28092 SPAIN

Dear Email Bearer,

This is to inform you of the release of our 2010 ONLINE INTERNATIONAL
LOTTERY in which e-mail addresses are picked randomly by software powered
by the Internet. Eighteen email addresses were selected and you are lucky
to be amongst them therefore making you one of winners of the sum of
18,000,000.00Euros (EIGHTEEN MILLION EUROS ) in this category and you are
to contact our Financial Controller with the information below for
clearance. Now total sum of 850,000.00Euros Eight Hundred and Fifty
Thousand Euros has been approved for you.

conatct your claiming agent with the below information for the processing
of your fund. remember to quote your reference number and batch number
winning number to him.

LOTTERIA CLAIMING DEPARTMENT
ESQ, CARLOS BLANCO
Telephone: +34-672-733-493
Email to: esq.carlos_blanco@ozu.es

In respect to claims, you are to forward the following details to
esq.carlos_blanco@ozu.es
for payment approval on your file for immediate payment:

1. BATCH NUMBER: ...........................

2. REFERENCE NUMBER:...........................

3. AMOUNT WON:..................................

4. FULL NAME :( MR/MRS)..................................

5 TEL/FAX NUMBER : ..........................

6. CITY/COUNTRY: .............................

7. ADDRESS :( HOME AND OFFICE)...............................

8. OCCUPATION/ORGANIZATION:....................................

9. DATE OF BIRTH:.........................

10. PRIVATE EMAIL ADDRESS:............................

Congratulation once again.

CALL FOR CONFIRMATION: +34-672-733-493 ESQ, CARLOS BLANCO EMAIL:
esq.carlos_blanco@ozu.es

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

Congratulations once more from all members of our staff and thank you for
being part of our promotion program.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Maria Lopez

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam