419 scam: Betty Thompson <stevewalker017@gmail.com> Attn Lucky Winner

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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")
- "into your nominated bank account" (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)
- "million dollars" (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.
- jamesschofield989@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- to avoid delays as you can contact him via e-mail: jamesschofield989@gmail.com or through telephone and fax listed below. also be (Gmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: Betty Thompson <stevewalker017@gmail.com>
Reply-To: bety.thompson44@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2020 17:18:00 +0100
Subject: Attn Lucky Winner

Melbourne Australia
382 Channel Drive
Tel-+61384004707
Fax-+61370039254

Attn Lucky Winner

The Team of Mega Million is Pleased to officially announce you as the Third
place prize winner of the Ten Million ($10,500.000.00) prize draw sponsored
by OZ Australia. The total amount to be claimed for Fourth place is Five
Million Dollars ($500,000.000). Congratulations! Global Mega Millions will
make all necessary arrangements for you to receive your prize. Please
contact your Claims Agent or representative immediately to avoid delays as
you can contact him via e-mail: jamesschofield989@gmail.com or through
telephone and fax listed below. Also be informed that 10% of your Winning
belongs to Oz Group Limited because they are the promotion and legal
company that assign to your claim, this 10 percent will be paid only after
you have received your awarded prize (money).

Three (3) certificates are to be issued to you by the Local government
concerned offices to legally back up your claim through the promotional
company (Tatts Group Limited). Unclaimed winning prize are used for
education programs, treatment programs, and to increase future prize pools.

Your Claims Agent is: Mr. James Schofield in Australia Tel- +613-383757100
(Fax- +61381035050).

Your Security Code is: H649PC32 As required by US Federal, AUS and State
laws, your Security code and Prize information must be kept strictly
confidential which means that you are precluded from discussing your win
with 3rd parties such as (family members, friends and relatives).This is to
prevent unlawful tampering and a means to reduce risks of fraud and scams
from taking place and also Due to false practices, we ask that you keep
your award information strictly from public notice, until your claim has
been processed and money remitted to your possession as this is part of our
security protocol to avoid double claiming or unwarranted abuse of this
program by unscrupulous individuals.

As soon as we verify your identity and Security Code number from you, we
will immediately release your total sum through wire transfer into your
nominated bank account or platinum automated card will be issued with
withdrawal analysis according to the global financial law guiding lottery
release through (ATM).

Your email initial was used for the raffle draw and you emerged a lucky
winner.

Once again, Congratulations

Betty Thompson
Mega Millions Lotto Coordinator
E-mail: bety.thompson44@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam