419 scam: LOTTO SPONSOR <lott2012@voila.fr> FROM: THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY

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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:
- "from: the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "part of our security protocols" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",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)
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.
- lottosponsor2012@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: LOTTO SPONSOR <lott2012@voila.fr>
Reply-To: lottosponsor2012@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 2 Jul 2013 04:52:40 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: FROM: THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY

FROM: THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY
PROMOTIONS/PRIZE GIVING AWARD
AVENUE NKURUMA SECTOR, 104OUAGA BP!!!!!!!!!!!!!CONGRATULATION!!!!!!!!!!
Dear lucky winner
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the INTERNATIONAL
POOLSLOTTERY RAFFLE DRAW
International programs held on the 30th of June, 2013.
Your e-mail address was attached to ticket number 001478996665 with
Serial number 4569877454:2563 drew lucky numbers 896633666/457896
Which consequently won in the 2nd category, you have therefore been
Approved for a lump sum payment of 850, 000.00 Euros.
(Eight Hundred and fifty Thousand Euros).
CONGRATULATIONS!!Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your
Winning information confidential until your claim has been
Processed and your money Remitted to you. This is part of our security protocols
to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse
of this program by some participants.All participants were selected through a computer ballot system
Drawn from over 20,000 company and 30,000,000 individual's email addresses from all over the world. This promotional program takes place every year.
This lottery was promoted and sponsored by International software
Organization committee, with support of VICE PRESIDENT we hope with part of your winning you will take part in our next coming ( 2 million euro) international lottery.To file for your claim, please contact our claim agent
M. Hakeem
Manager International Remittance/Credit unit
Facility Management RegionEmail (LOTTOSPONSOR2012@GMAIL.COM)Telephone (00226) 74 36 38 22CONGRATULATION!!!
Contact your claim agent for due processing and remittance of your
Prize money to a designated account of your choice. Remember, you
Must contact your claims officer not later than a week.
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 numbers in every one of your
Correspondences with your officers. Furthermore, should there be any
Change of your address; do inform your claims officer as soon as possible.
Congratulations again from all our staff and thank you for being
Part of our promotions program.
We wish you continued good fortunes.Best regards.
Mr. Jones parker.
2013, Raffle Co-Ordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam