419 scam: "BRISTOL LOTTERY"<bristollotto03@yahoo.co.jp> AWARD 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:

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")
- ",500,000" (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 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.
- johncraig010@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "BRISTOL LOTTERY" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bristolsweepstakes@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2011 03:41:26 -0600
Subject: AWARD NOTIFICATION.

RE: AWARD NOTIFICATION: FINAL NOTICE

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement of winners on
the 21st of March 2011, of the BRISTOL PROMO LOTTERY, AN ASIA/EUROPE
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM.

Your email address is attached to ticket number 05 08 23 14 15 12 20,
with serial number 1971-302 drew the lucky numbers 03-01-13-10-AC-MY,
and consequently won the lottery in the 3rd category. You have therefore
been approved for a lump sum payment of US$5,500,000.00 (Five Million Five
Hundred Thousand Dollars only), credited to file REFERENCE NO: 112/451/002
and BATCH NO: 523140912-DD43.

All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from
a collation of frequent internet users from all over the world from
Australia,
New Zealand, United States of America, Europe, North America and Asia as
part
of the International Promotions Program, which is conducted bi-annually.
No tickets were sold.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Please be informed that your winnings of the sum of US$5,500,000.00
has been zoned to the European Processing Office. Due to mix up of
some numbers and names, we ask that you keep this award confidential
from public notice until your claim has been processed and your money
remitted to your account. This is part of our security protocol to avoid
double claiming or unscrupulous acts by participants of this program.
We hope with a part of you prize, you will participate in our end of year
high stakes US$1.3 billion International Lottery.

To begin your claim, please contact your claims agent: MR. JOHN CRAIG
via this email address (johncraig010@yahoo.co.jp), for due processing
and remittance of your prize money.

Send an email with your Reference Number 112/451/002 and Batch number
523140912-DD43.
MR. JOHN CRAIG.
EMAIL: johncraig010@yahoo.co.jp

Remember all prize money must be claimed not later than the 29th of
April 2011.
After this date, all funds will be returned as unclaimed.
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please
remember to
quote your reference and batch numbers in every one of your correspondences
with your agent. Furthermore, should there be any change of your address,
do
inform your claims agent as soon as possible. Congratulations from all our
staff
and thank you for being part of our promotions program.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Kame Eri
(Online Promotion Coordinator).

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam