419 scam: Greerton Lotto shop owner New Zealand We Await Cogent Response

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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:
- "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
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!

Fraud email example:

From: Greerton Lotto shop owner New Zealand
Reply-To: <dr.norbertreithofers@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2015 15:39:54 -0500
Subject: We Await Cogent Response

We happily announce to you the draw (#831) held on Wednesday, 23rd Septembe=
r 2015.
Your e-mail address attached to ticketnumber: 56475600231 999 with Serial =
number 831231/21 drew the lucky numbers: 02,19,28,33,44,49,21.which subsequ=
ently won you the jackpot prize. You have therefore been approved to claim =
a total sum of $4.5M (Four Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dolla=
rs) in cash credited to file KTU/90231831831/21.
All participants for the online version were selected randomly from the Wo=
rld Wide Web of New Zealand through a computer draw system and extracted fr=
om over 100,000 unions, associations, and corporate bodies that are listed =
online. This promotion takes place all Nine Months, Fore more verifications=
view this Link:http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=3D1&obje=
ctid=3D11518331
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/article.cfm?c_id=3D15033=
43&objectid=3D11516316
Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our American bookl=
et representative office in Europe as indicated in your play coupon. In vie=
w of this, your $4.5m would be released to you by any of our payment office=
s in America.
To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent 1-330-765-1459
Provide him with the information below:
1.Name:
2.Address:
3.Marital Status:
4.Occupation:
5.Age:
6.Sex:
7.Nationality:
8.Country Of Residence:
9.Telephone Number:
10.Draw Number above:
Providing your details requires your Winnings Certificate and all other re=
levant documents/paperwork can be prepared for you. You would be required t=
o show an instrument of identification when cashing your cheque i.e. Driver=
s License or International passport. if not You won't be paid in your Bank.=
For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information conf=
idential util your claims is processed and your money remitted to you in wh=
atever manner you deem fit to claim your prize. This is part of our precaut=
ionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this progr=
am. Please be warned.
Yours faithfully,
Belinda Sands.
Greerton Lotto shop owner New Zealand

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam