419 scam: "LOTTERY BONUS/PROMOTION PRIZE"<microluckky@aim.com> RE:LOTTERY BONUS/PROMOTION PRIZE AWARD WINNING NOTIFICATION

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "national lottery promotion" (no such lottery exists)
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "foreign service manager" (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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
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.
- +34671972414 (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.
- argsecurities@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "LOTTERY BONUS/PROMOTION PRIZE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <argsecurities@aim.com>
Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:25:40 +0200
Subject: RE:LOTTERY BONUS/PROMOTION PRIZE AWARD WINNING NOTIFICATION

TRANSVERSAL FELICIAN

27113 MADRID, SPAIN.

INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION / PRIZE AWARD DEPT.

FILE CLAIM NO: 297/8159/LPD

ATTN: CLAIMANT,

RE:LOTTERY BONUS/PROMOTION PRIZE AWARD WINNING NOTIFICATION

We are pleased to inform you of the release of the 14th July. 2010, results of the EURO MILLIONES INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY PROMOTIONS PROGRAMS held on the 9th of July 2010.Your name was attached to the ticket number 76501 with serial number MI335 drew the lucky numbers 9. 24. 37. 39. 49: 3. 9 which consequently won the lottery in the 2nd category.
You have there been approved for a lump sum pay out of €815,810.00 (EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND TEN EUROS ONLY) in cash credited to file OES/3589603/10.This is from the total cash prize of €16,621,340.00(SIXTEEN MILLON SIX HUNDRED AND TWENTY ONE THOUSAND, THREE HUNDRED AND FOURTY EUROS ONLY).This sum were shared among the seventy one international winners in this category.

CONGRATULATION!!!
Your fund is now deposited with the finance company and insured in your name, Due to mixed up of some numbers and names we ask that you keep this award a top secret from public notice until your claim has been processed and your money remitted to your account as this is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming of unwarranted taking of advantage of this program by participants.

All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 10,000.000.00 names from (Europe, America , Canada , Asia, Australia , New Zealand , Middle-East, Africa , and North & South America), as part of our International promotions program. We hope your lucky name will draw a bigger cash prize in the subsequent programs. To begin your claim, please contact your claims Agent,

The Foreign Service Manager,
ARG SECURITY

Contact Officer: Mr. Ruben Garcia.

Customer Support Unit,

Tel No: +34 671 972 414

Fax No:+34 911 849 813

Email: argsecurities@aim.com

For the processing and remittance of your prize money to your designated account of your choice. Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than 31st of August 2010.After this date, all funds will be returned to the MINISTERIO DE ECONOMIA Y HACIENDA as unclaimed, Remember 5% will be paid to your agent for services render after you have received your total winning

Note: You will be require to notarising and obtained a vetting approval from the Spanish high court of justice Madrid Spain before your winning prize can be transfer and this process will be done by your approved claim agent.

In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your file claim number in every of your correspondence with us or your agent. Further more, should you have any change of address or questions do inform your claims official as soon as possible.

Congratulations Once again from all members of our staff and thank you for being a part of our promotion program.

Yours truly,

DON. RAFAEL ANTONIO,PRESIDENT.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam