419 scam: Westdeutsche Lotterie <westpromo2112@yahoo.de> Congratulations!!! You Have Won (One Million EURO)

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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.
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)
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.
- +447024079660 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
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.
- post_gray2000@hotmail.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Westdeutsche Lotterie <westpromo2112@yahoo.de>
Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2011 18:11:43 +0100
Subject: Congratulations!!! You Have Won (One Million EURO)

Westdeutsche Lotterie GmbH & Co. OHG
Central Office Management and Central Services:
Rosenstrasse 12-16 DE - 70156 Stuttgart
Germany

Reference Number: WL/GmbH-23/07-OHG
Batch: WL/07 GmbH/9907

Congratulations!!!

We are pleased to inform you of the resultof the just concluded annual final
draws of the Westdeutsche Lotterie GmbH & Co. OHG Program.

Westdeutsche Lotterie GmbH & Co. OHG draws was conducted from an
exclusive list of 25,000,000 e-mail addresses of individual and corporate
bodies picked by an advanced automated random computer ballot search from
the internet as part of our international promotions program which we
conduct every year. No tickets were sold.

After this automated computer ballot, your e-mail address
attached to serial number 07-9907 drew the lucky numbers
9-11-25-30-38-46 which consequently emerged you as one of first fifty
(50) lucky winners in this category. You have therefore been approved for
a lump sum payout of 1,000,000.00 (One Million EURO) in cash credited
to file WL/GmbH-23/07-OHG.This is from a total cash prize of ?50 Million Euro
shared amongst the first fifty (50) lucky winners in this category.

Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our booklet
representative office in London. In view of this, your ?1,000,000.00 (One
Million Euro) would be released to you by our affiliate bank in London. Our
agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of
your funds to you as soon as you make contact with him.

To begin your claim please contact our licensed and accredited agent
assigned to you:

Mr.Gray Jackson
Westdeutsche Lotterie GmbH & Co. OHG
Lotto Payment Release Order Dept:
London Representative Office.
Phone: +447024079660

E-mail: post_gray2000@hotmail.co.uk

Your claims agent will assist you in the processing and remittance of
your prize funds into your designated bank account.

Yours faithfully,
Mrs.Susi Cristoph
Promotions Manager.
Westdeutsche Lotterie GmbH & Co. OHG

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam