419 scam: "Mr. Patrick Buffard" <andersonepa222@gmail.com> Congratulations Your fund is deposited with a reputable international bank.

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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:
- "from: the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "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!
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.
- agentloto@citromail.hu (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Patrick Buffard" <andersonepa222@gmail.com>
Reply-To: agentloto@citromail.hu
Date: Mon, 22 Nov 2021 13:51:43 +0100
Subject: Congratulations Your fund is deposited with a reputable international bank.

Date: 22nd Nov 2021

From: The Desk of the Vice President
Ref N0: FL/1660/014/Intâ€™l
International Promotion / Prize Award Dept.
Batch N0: FIL/2565845/02-14/EU
702 Ave De Clichy Paris, 75017

NOTIFICATION OF RESULT IN FRENCH LOTTO;

It is our pleasure to inform you of the result of the French Lottery
International Promotion Programs held on 30th of September 2021. Due
to some clerical mistakes resulting in mix up of numbers and
addresses, the results were released on the 15th November, 2021.
Participants were selected from a computer ballots system drawn from
an exclusive list of 125,000 names of individuals from Europe, Asia,
Middle East and United States database.

This program was designed to promote and encourage tourism in our
country. Your name entered in the lottery program attached to ticket
number 031-1127 with serial number 80745-3 drew these lucky numbers

that won the lottery in the 3rd category. As a result of this win,
you are approved for a lump sum payment of US$2,710,000.00 (Two
Million Seven Hundred and Ten Thousand, US Dollars Only) in a
certified bank cheque number 101656401011 attached to File REF N0:
FL/1660/014/Intâ€™l. This is from a total cash prize of $48,780.000.00
(Four-Eight Million Seventy-Eight Thousand US Dollars Only) shared
among the eighteen (18) international winners in this category.

Your fund is deposited with a reputable international bank, secured
and insured in your name, with insurance bond policy coverage to avoid
any fraudulent activity on it. To prevent falsification of the winning
numbers and names, we strongly ask that you keep this notice highly
confidential until your claim is processed and your winning prize paid
to you. This is a part of our deliberate security protocol to avoid
scammers taking of advantage of this program against participants.

As an organisation, we work with an international financial consultant
and attorney in ensuring smooth and transparent claim process, and
secondly to prevent avoidable delay in releasing your winning prize.
You are advised to contact your payment processing agent below to
kick-start the processing and release of your prize money into your
nominated bank account or a certified bank cheque deliver to an
address (to be provided by you).

Company Name: Lotto Agent
E-mail: agentloto@citromail.hu

You may be required to fly to Paris, to sign the fund release
documents and pick up your cheque (subject to COVID-19 travel
conditions). However, if you are not in a position to fly, you will
need to liaise with our overseas payment agent for professional
assistance. Please note that all money must be claimed not later than
20th of December 2021. After this date, all unclaimed funds will be
returned to the Escrow Account of the French International Lottery and
marked as unclaimed.

In order to ensure smooth processing of your claim and avoid
unnecessary delays or complications, please remember to quote your
Reference Number and Cheque Number in every of your correspondence
with us or our Oversea Financial Representative. Furthermore, should
there be any change of your address after starting this claim process,
do notify the agent accordingly as soon as possible.

Congratulations from all members of our staff and thank you for being
a part of our promotion program.

Sincerely,

Mr. Patrick Buffard
Executive Vice President, Sales, Media & Distribution
FOR: GROUPE FDJ (OWNERS OF FRENCH LOTTO)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam