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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +34655375454 (Spain, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • unionsecurity205@zwallet.com

Fraud email example:

From: MR
Reply-To: unionsecurity205@zwallet.com
Date: Tue, 04 Oct 2005 14:25:26 +0200
Subject: LOTTERY AWARD NOTIFICATION



FROM THE DESK OF MANAGINE DIRECTOR
CLAIM FILE NUMBER: EG/008045160027
MADRID: 3/10/2005

BATCH NUMBER: 100000488

AWARD NOTIFICATION FINAL NOTICE



We are pleased to inform you today 4th day of october 2005 for the release of =
the SPANISH SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY / INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM Held on the 29 Aug =
2005. Your name attached to the ticket number 025-11-464-992-750 drew the =
lucky number 134-15-16-21-34-3
6 which consequently won the lottery in the 3rd category. You have therefore =
been approved for a lump sum pay of US$950,950.00 ( NINE HUNDRED AND FIFTY =
THOUSAND, NINE HUNDRED AND FIFTY UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY ) in cash =
credited to file NO: EG/00804516
0027.
This is From A Total Cash Prize of US$25,756.820.00 ( TWENTY FIVE MILLION =
SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY SIX THOUSAND, EIGHT HUNDRED AND TWENTY DOLLARS ONLY ) =
shared Among International Winners In This category

CONGRATULATIONS.

Your fund is now deposited with a finance company insured to your name.
please note that your claim and batch numbers are the key to your funds, you =


are to keep this as a top confidential until your claim has been processed =
and your money remitted to your bank account as this is part of our protocol =


to avoid double claiming or unwarranted taking of an advantage of this =
program by participants.

All Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from =
25,000 names from Europe and America as part of our international promotions =

program which we conduct twice every year. We hope with a part of your prize =


you will take part in our next high stake USD1.3 BILLION INTERNATIONAL =
LOTTERY.

To begin your claim, please contact your claim agent MR.JOHN SMITH, the =
foreign Service manager UNION SECURITY & FINANCE COMPANY TEL:+34-655375454
FAX:+34-940463988 EMAIL:unionsecurity205@zwallet.com for processing and =
transfer of your prize money to a designated bank account of your choice.
Remember all prize money must be claimed not latter than 28th October 2005.
After this date, all funds will be return to the Ministerio De economia y =
Hacienda as unclaimed.

NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delay and complications, please remember =


to quote your reference and batch numbers in every of your correspondence =
with us or your agent, furthermore, should there be any change of address, Do =
notify your claims agent as soon as possible.

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



Sincerely,

MRS.BLANCO LOPEZ

DIRECTOR

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam