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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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.

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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
• 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.
  • vitaltrustsp@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: info winner international <infowinnerinternational@web.de>
Date: Wed, 23 May 2007 12:16:52 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATION WINNER 2007!!!





CONGRATULATION WINNER 2007!!!

(¡) Ref No: EMLES/2007M
(¡¡) Batch No: SUTO/980/TWM/EU
(¡¡¡) Ticket No: WRNM/SMI/5990
(iv) Lucky No: 10-23-44-72-80
(v) Serial No: MUOTI/82536


Attention:Winner!!!
FROM THE DESK OF MANAGING DIRECTOR
PROMOTIONS/AWARD DEPARTMENT,
EURO-MILLION LOTERIA ESPANYOL

We wish to congratulate you over your email success in our computer balloting held on 21st May 2007.
This is a Millennium Scientific Computer Game in which email addresses were used.
It is a promotional program aimed at encouraging internet users; therefore you do not need to buy ticket to enter for it.
You have been approve f or the star prize of Euro 950:000.00(Nine Hundred And Fifty Thouasnd Euro Only)
Please be advised as follows: To file for your claim, kindly contact our certified and accredited claims Agent in Email below:

Vital Trust Agencia
DR. Phillip Weeks
E-mail: vitaltrustsp@aim.com [mailto:vitaltrustsp@aim.com]
****************************
You must contact the appointed agent with your Full Names, Contact
Telephone Numbers (Home, Office and Mobile Number and also Fax Number)
via email to process the immediate payment of your prize.
The Validity period of the winnings is for 15 working days hence you
are expected to make your claims immediately.
Once again congratulations !!!

Best Regards,
Anita Raynes(Mrs)
Lottery coordinator,Español.




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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam