Crime Online

Who would ever write that as a subject line on an e-mail? African crooks, that’s who.

In their quest to find names which can impress people, these crooks have happened upon Mercedes Benz. Of course it’s a name that is well known the world over for quality cars. That’s why they use it here. To give the reader the impression that what they are reading is plausible and true.

It’s one of those e-mails where the contact office is in Africa. What
a coincidence!

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: AUSTRALIA LOTTO LOTTERY INC.
Date: Sep 5, 2008 3:10 AM
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS………..
To: undisclosed-recipients

AUSTRALIA LOTTO LOTTERY INC.
Date:4/9/2008
Ref:4758961725
Batch:ALLINC 70564943902/188
Winning no:FGNGB2701/LPRC

CONGRATULATIONS………..

Dear Lucky Winner,

We are delighted to inform you of your prize release on the of 4th
STEP-2008 from the Australian International Lottery programme. Which is
fully bank on an electronic selection of winners using their e-mail
addresses Your name was attached to ticket number 47061725 07056490902
serial number 7741137002 This batch draws the lucky numbers as follows
513-33-37-42 bonus number 17,which consequently won the lottery in the
second category. You hereby have been approved a lump sum pay of
US$600,000.00 (SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS) in cash credit file ref:
ILP/HW 47509/02 from the total cash prize of US$4.8million shared
amongst eight lucky winners in this category.

All participant were selected through a computer balloting system
drawn from Nine hundred thousand E-mail addresses from Canada,
Australia, United States, Asia, Europe, Middle East, (Africa Nigeria
claiming office)and Oceania apart of our international promotions
program which is conducted annually.

This Lottery was promoted and sponsored by a conglomerate of some
multinational companies as part of their social responsibility to the
citizens in the communities where they have operational base.

Further more your details(e-mail address) falls within our European
representative office in France,Spain, as indicated in your play
coupon and your prize of US$600 000,.00USD, will be released to you
from this regional branch office in
Africa. We hope with part of your prize, you will participate in our
end of year high stakes for US$1.3 Billion international draw.

HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE Simply contact our fiducial agent,REVEREND
PAUL JOHNSON HIS
EMAIL ADDRESS IS(revpauljohnsonagent@gmail.com) to file for your claim.

Please quote your reference, batch and winning number which can be
found on the top left corner of this notification as well as your full
name, address and telephone number to help locate your file easily.
For security reasons, we advice all winners to keep this information
confidential from the public until your claim is processed and
yourprize released to you.

This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and
unwarranted taking advantage of this programmer by non-participant or
unofficial personnel.

Note, all winnings MUST be claimed under two weeks of receiving this
message otherwise all funds will be returned as Unclaimed and
eventually donated to charity Congratulations once again on your
winnings!!!(co-ordinator) PLEASE DO REPLY TO THIS EMAIL.AND CONTACT
YOUR CLAIMS AGENT OF CONFIDENTIALITY ON THE PART OF THE WINNERS WILL
RESULT TO DISQUALIFICATION.

BEST REGARD,
Mrs Rose Hill
LOTTERY DIRECTOR

I would say the next best thing to a lottery is to give the money away

It really looks as though Google is getting better at recognising these e-mails as fraudulent. I hope they get better at it, because it will save a lot of heartbreak if they do.

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