419 scam: "Claims Centre, UK" <info@claims.org.uk> (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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "unclaimed-desk@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!
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- +447031983882 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Claims Centre, UK" <info@claims.org.uk>
Reply-To: unclaimedfunds5@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 04 Jun 2010 22:02:30 +0200
Subject:

NATIONAL LOTTERY
P O BOX 1010
LIVERPOOL, L70 1NL
UNITED KINGDOM
Ref: WIN/033/07/09

Unclaimed Winnings:

In regards to the above subject, I Gary Harrison, Claims Supervisor for
the United Kingdom Lottery Board (UKLB) wish to notify you through this
e-mail that your case file has been re-opened.

You were selected as a winner in the UK INTERNATIONAL SWEEPTAKES, held on
January 2009, but you never claimed the winnings due reasons best known to
you. With direction from the New Regional Director of this great Lottery
Organisation, Your case file has been re-opened to give you an opportunity
to claim your winnings amounting to £1,020,728 ( One Million, Twenty
Thousand, Seven Hundred and Twenty Eight Pounds) which was won by
04-18-22-27-44-48 33(BONUS) - Numbers from your email entry ticket.

Please Contact this office for further directives as to how you can claim
this prize.

********************************************
INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DESK
Claims Officer: Barrister Gary Harrison
Email: unclaimed-desk@live.co.uk
Telephone: +447031983882
********************************************

When contacting this office, You are to refurbish the Claims officer with
the following information with which to verify and draft your cheque.

1.FULL NAME:
2.ADDRESS:
3.COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE:
4.TELEPHONE:

You funds would be transferred to you via swift telegraphic transfer.

Regards,
Obec Strukov (Assistant Claims Officer).
United Kingdoms International Lottery.

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam