419 scam: "LOTTERY PLUS 5"<officefrelotto1@gmail.com> CONGRATULATIONS!!

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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:
- "activation fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- officefrelotto@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "LOTTERY PLUS 5" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <officefrelotto@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2014 05:41:37 -0400
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!

Dear Selected Winner,

After a random automated selection of email addresses over the internet,
your email emerged as one of our special winners to receive £3,152,190.00
and is attached to the following details:
FILE CATEGORY - LOTUK/UK01/2013
Ticket No: 68/837
Reference Number: 48,DH,83/LOTUK
To confirm the authenticity and validity of your winnings as well as to
commence receipts of your entitlement, you MUST PAY AN ACTIVATION FEE OF 3,150GBP

FORWARD a copy of this announcement as well as your

FULL NAMES -
VALID MOBILE/CELL NO. -
COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE -
to our Winnings Director via contact information below:

Mr. Darren Harvey,
Winnings Director,
Automated Winnings Department,
Email: officefrelotto@gmail.com

Yours faithfully,
Geoffrey Phillip,
Automated Winnings Coordinator,
Automated Winnings Department
Email: officefrelotto@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam