419 scam: "Mrs. LILLIAN GOLD" <info@somfy.com> RE: 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 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.
- +31685083128 (Netherlands, 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.
- claims10agent@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. LILLIAN GOLD" <info@somfy.com>
Reply-To: claims10agent@aim.com
Date: Sun, 07 Aug 2011 22:46:23 +0200
Subject: RE: WINNING NOTIFICATION

RE: WINNING NOTIFICATION

The office of the POST CODE lottery Holland award division is pleased =20
to=A0 inform you that you have been announced the seventh lucky winner =20
of=A0 it. Your company or personal email address=A0 was selected and =20
attached to=A0 the winning number seven (7) with batch
=A0number:SSL-89705, Lotto number: NNL-65812 and Winning number: NNS-43668.

=A0Therefore, you have been approved for lump sums payout of =20
1,000,000.00 Euros (ONE MILLION EUROS) in cash and have been credited =20
to Ref Payment No: 89680MM.

=A0This is from total prize money of 25 Million, Euros, shared among the =20
Twenty Five (25) International lucky Winners all over the world by =20
the=A0 POST CODE lottery division with objectives to a global financial =20
assistance to the lucky winners.

=A0This prize was won through electronics e -mail selection, your e-mail =20
id=A0 won the 7th position .

To claim your prize funds, you are to contact the Claims agent (Mr =20
PATRICK ADAMS) of the Holland payment Division.
=A0Below is our agents contact information
=A0Contact E-mail:claims10agent@aim.com
Contact Name: Mr=A0 PATRICK=A0 ADAMS
=A0Contact Phone: +31685083128

You are required to forward your winning details via the above e-mail =20
addresses. And your personal information to the above address for =20
verification, and further proceedings, with respect to the release of =20
your=A0 won funds. Your personal information includes the following:

1) Full Name...............
2) Nationality.............
3) Age.....................
4) Contact Phone No........
5)Amount Won.............

=A0As soon as you contact the Claims agent, he will advise you on what to do
in order to get your prize money.

SECURITY
=A0For security reasons, we advice all winners to keep this winning =20
information confidential from the public,until your claims documents =20
are processed and your prize released to you.This is part of our =20
security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted taking =20
advantage of this programme by non-participants or=A0 unofficial personnel
Sincerely
=A0Mrs. LILLIAN=A0 GOLD
(Chief Co-coordinator).
(Secretary)
Copyright =A9 2011 post code Internet Lottery Promotion. All Rights =A0
***************************************************
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Sostieni il *Progetto giovani ricercatori*:

5 per mille all'Universita' di Macerata - C.F.: 00177050432

http://www.unimc.it/5permille
***************************************************

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam