419 scam: DEPARTMENT OFFICE <imfoffice1987@gmail.com> $10,500,000.00 USD. COVID-19 PRIZE/AWARD. 2021

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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.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- ",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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
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.
- office.1976@rediffmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: DEPARTMENT OFFICE <imfoffice1987@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2021 17:45:28 -0400
Subject: $10,500,000.00 USD. COVID-19 PRIZE/AWARD. 2021

*CORONAVIRUS COVID-19 FREE LOTTERY DRAW*

*ATTENTION: WINNER,*

*WE ARE HAPPY TO INFORM YOU THAT THE RELEASE OF THE 2021. COVID-19 FREE
PRIZE/AWARD PROGRAM.2021. HAS BEEN APPROVED AND YOUR E-MAIL/ WERE randomly
selected from a batch of 50,000,000 international E-mail/numbers.
Coronavirus Covid-19 Draw. Consequently, you have therefore been approved
for a total payout of Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand United States
Dollars. (USD$10,500, 000.00) only. Your E-mail /Phone number emerged
alongside 9 others as a category to winner in this year's Annual.*

*(i) winning numbers: 37-13-43-85-67-11*

*(iv) the file Ref number: FL/04/736207152/ZA*

*FOR SECURITY REASONS: YOU ARE ADVISED TO KEEP YOUR WINNING INFORMATION
CONFIDENTIAL TILL YOUR CLAIM YOUR PRIZE AMOUNT.THIS IS PART OF OUR
PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE TO AVOID DOUBLE CLAIMING AND UNWARRANTED ABUSE OF
THIS PROGRAM.PLEASE BE WARNED.*

*CONGRATULATIONS**! *

*YOUR WINNING PRIZE IS CURRENTLY DEPOSITED WITH ( CITIBANK U.S) CHAPTER.YOU
ARE REQUIRED TO KEEP YOUR WINNING NUMBERS TOP SECRET FROM PUBLIC NOTICE
UNTIL YOUR CLAIM HAS BEEN PROCESSED AND YOUR WINNING AMOUNT IS TRANSFERRED
TO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT. AS THIS IS PART OF OUR PROTOCOL TO AVOID DOUBLE
CLAIMING OR UNWARRANTED TAKING OF AN ADVANTAGE OF THIS PROGRAM BY
PARTICIPANTS. ALL PARTICIPANTS WERE SELECTED THROUGH A COMPUTER SYSTEM
DRAWN FROM 50,000.00 EMAIL/PHONE NUMBERS OF INDIVIDUALS FROM EUROPE,
AFRICA, ASIA, MIDDLE EAST, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, UNITED STATE AND NEW ZEALAND
AS PART OF OUR INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION PROGRAM. THEREFORE TO RECEIVE YOUR
PRIZE CONTACT CITIBANK AGENT IN U.S. *

*CONTACT PERSON Mr. GABRIEL PICCOLI *

*CONTACT EMAIL: ( **office.1976@rediffmail.com*
<office.1976@rediffmail.com>* ) *

*PHONE NUMBER :: +1702 381 5479*

*ADDRESS:: 2215 N Rampart Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89128, United State *

*VERY IMPORTANT.*

*CONGRATULATIONS** AGAIN FROM ALL MEMBERS OF OUR STAFF AND THANK YOU FOR
BEING A PART OF OUR PROMOTION PROGRAM.*

* ===============================*

*You must be 18 or over to play or claim a prize.*

*Sincerely,*

*Rev. Dr. Kevin Philips*

*Promotions Manager*

*Coronavirus Covid-19*

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam