Here is an example of a lottery scam email (in red). I went through it and documented some ways to measure the authenticity of this email. These techniques can be applied to any kind of email that you think is potentially malicious. My techniques are in black and preceded by “[Technique"]”

6123 COOL STREET RD
PAULGREENVUL LE AX34587,
AUSTRALIA.

[TECHNIQUE] The address above resolves to the following: An empty patch of land!!!!!!!!

REF: 4758961725
BATCH: 70564943902/188

WINNING NO: FGNGB2701/LPRC

(Australia Lotto lottery is an affiliate of Lottery Subscriber Agents.)

[TECHNIQUE]   I searched for the name of the lottery on the web. The first result shows me that this email is a scam!!

Arena Complex 14 Donegall Square South Australia .

[TECHNIQUE]   Again, the address listed above does not resolve!

From: miss. Carol Sweet (Lottery Co-ordinator)

Sir/Madam,

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

We are delighted to inform you that you have won prize money of eight
hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($850, 000.00 USD)

[TECHNIQUE]   Why is the Australian lottery giving money in United States currency? USD?

for the 2009 end of the year lottery promotion, which is organized by Australia lottery
award. This is a bonus to promote lotto in Australia

[TECHNIQUE]   These guys got the year wrong. 2009 has not ended yet:)

Australian lottery award, arranged and gathered all the e-mail

[TECHNIQUE]   Earlier in the email, the lottery is organized by “Australian Lotto Lottery”. Now it has changed to “Australian Lottery Award” hmmm…seems like a lazy scammer at work!

addresses of the people that are active online, among the millions that
subscribed to all email addresses, and others we only select Eight (8)
candidates annually as our winners through electronic balloting system
(EBS) without the candidates applying, we congratulate you for being
one of the people selected.

However, your email address was attached to ticket number;
4706172507056490902 , serial number: 7050490902/189 this batch draws
the lucky numbers as follows 5-13-33-37-42 bonus number 17, which
consequently won the lotto in the second category. You here by have
been approved lump sums pay of us$850,000.00 (Eight Hundred and Fifty
Thousand Dollars) in cash credit file Ref: ilp/hw 47509/09 from the
total cash prize shared amongst eight lucky winners in this category.
**********PAYMENT OF PRIZE AND CLAIM**********
Your payment approval file was sent to African and European continent
only due to the fact that more winners emerged from their. You are to
contact our location claim agent on or before your date of claim.
These are your identification numbers:

REF: 4758961725
BATCH: 70564943902/188

WINNING NO: FGNGB2701/LPRC

[TECHNIQUE]   Again, the numbers referenced above are not consistent. The batch number and winning no is different!!!

TICKET NUMBER...................... 4706172507056490902
SERIAL NUMBER........................7050490902/189
BATCH NUMBER.........................5-13-33-37-42
BONUS NUMBER ...........................17
These numbers above fall within the agent location file, and you are
requested to contact your agent and send your identification numbers
and personal information to him.

NAME: REV. ARMSTRONG WILLIAMS
E-MAIL: armstrongwilliams02@gmail.com
E-MAIL: rev.fr.armstrongwilliams@gmail.com

[TECHNIQUE]  Never trust an official email that is sent from a “free” email service.

PHONE: +44 70457 76916

[TECHNIQUE]   The country code for Australia is 66 not 44!  44 is for the UK.

So, I live in North America, the lottery was in Australia and I have to call someone in the UK for the money. Wow, this is one interesting international cooperation for giving me money from a lottery that I never entered!

PERSONAL INFORMATION:
1. FULL NAME........................... .......................
2. COUNTRY....................... .............................
3. CONTACT ADDRESS .............................. .............
4. TELEPHONE NUMBER .............................. ...........
5. MARITAL STATUS .............................. .............
6. OCCUPATION .............................. .................
7. AGE ............................... ........................
8. SEX............................ ............................

[TECHNIQUE]   A valid lottery winning requires one to show up at the lottery office with identification. You never have to send such information over email.

Australia lottery award prize must be claimed not later than 21 days

[TECHNIQUE]  False sense of urgency. If I win a  lottery sponsored by a country’s government, I am very sure that there is no time limit for receiving the money

from date of draw notification after the draw date in which prize has
won unless otherwise.
Note: any prize not claimed within this period (21days) will be
forfeited unless where necessary.
NOTE: NOBODY WILL TOUCH YOUR PRIZE FOR ANY REASON AND AN AFFIDAVIT OF
FACT AND CLAIM WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE BANK BY THE COURT BEFORE THE
BANK CAN RELEASE YOUR PRIZE.
PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL, CONTACT YOUR CLAIMS AGENT @:
armstrongwilliams02@gmail.com
ANY BREACH OF CONFIDENTIALITY ON THE PART OF THE WINNERS WILL RESULT TO
DISQUALIFICATION.

[TECHNIQUE]  Never true. Lottery winnings never require confidentiality. They announce lottery winners on TV!

 
Congratulations once again.
Yours in service,
CAROL SWEET (CO COORDINATOR)