Linux used as hook in 419 scam

Yet another 419 scam.  No, there isn’t a lottery for Linux users.  And there aren’t any lotteries that pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to people who have not purchased lottery tickets.  The scammes count on their victims being so dazzled by the idea of winning money as to completely forget common sense.

The reason these scams always ask you to keep the supposed fact that you’ve won confidential is that if you actually believed you have won, and were to tell anyone, they would almost certainly point out to you that it’s a fraud.

Another tipoff is the +44 70x phone number.  While not all such phone numbers are fraudulent, any that you get in unsolicited email almost certainly are.  These are “follow me” style numbers that can be fowarded to anywhere in the world, and are routinely used by scammers in Nigeria who want to hide their location.

Remember, if a deal sounds too good to be true, it is.  Don’t fall victim to advance fee fraud.

Linux Head office London United Kingdom.

Berkeley Square House, Berkeley Square, London, W1J 6BD, UK
Affiliate of U.K National Lottery.
Tel: +44 704 570 4365
Fax:+44 870 479 1525

CONGRATULATIONS: YOU HAVE WON $200,000.00 !!!

Sir/Madam,

We are pleased to inform you of the result of Linux International Lottery which was held on the 28Th, February 2007. Your e-mail address attached to e-ticket number: 834509819, with Prize Number: 237359446 drew a prize of $200, 000.00 (Two hundred thousand Dollars).

This lucky draw came first in the 2ND Category of the Sweepstakes. You will receive the sum of $200,000.00 (Two hundred thousand Dollars) from our lottery department.Because of some mix-up with sweepstakes prizes, including the time limit placed on the payment of your prize: $200,000.00 (Two hundred thousand Dollars), we advice that you keep all information about this prize confidential until your funds:$200, 000.00 have been received by you.

You must adhere to this instruction, strictly, to avoid any delay with the release of your funds to your person. This program has been abused severally in past, so we are doing our best to forestall further occurrence of false claims. This sweepstakes was conducted under the watchful eyes of 8,000 spectators. Your e-mail address was selected and came out third by an e-ballot draw from over 250,000 e-mail addresses (personal and corporate e-mail addresses).

This program is sponsored by Linus Torvalds and CFI Networks to compensate faithful Internet users around the globe. Congratulations for becoming one of the few lucky winners.With your permission, your e-mail will also be included in the next sweepstake of 2Million USD. In order to avoid unnecessary delays with your claim. please contact immediately, and quote your winning information in all your correspondence to your claims agent.

Here is the contact information:

Name : Mr Lewis Anderson
Phone: +44 704 570 4365
Email: lewis.anderson231@mac.com

You are to furnish them with the following informations:

(i). Name(s),
(ii) Telephone and fax numbers
(iii)Contact address
(iv) Winning information.
(v) Age
(vi)Sex
(Vii) Occupation

Congratulations.
Mrs. Patricia Mcmeans
Coordinator, Linux International Lottery