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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
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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:
  • "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 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.
  • infomegatrust@netscape.net

Fraud email example:

From: EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA <elgordobv@netscape.net>
Date: Thu, 6 Oct 2005 11:21:47 +0200
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION !!!

FROM: THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT.
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD..
BATCH: IPD/15/096/PTNL. REFERENCE: MLI/5361-ILGI0509/45
CONGRATULATIONS!
This is to inform you of the release of the EL-GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA LOTTERY held on the 28th
september 2005, and results were released on the 5th october 2005. Your email addres was attached
to ticket number 085-12876077-09 with serial number 51390-0 that drew the lucky numbers of
03-05-12-14-28-38, which
consequently won the lottery in the 1st category. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay
of 1.600.000.00 Euros ( ONE MILLION SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND EUROS )in cash credited to file
with REF: Nº.EGS/3662367114/13.This is from a total cash prize of Euros 48,000,000.00 shared
among the thirty international winners in this category.
CONGRATULATIONS!!
Your fund is now secured and insured in your email address name. Due to mix up of some numbers and
names, we ask that you keep this award from public notice until your claims has been processed and the
money remitted to your account as this is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming of
unwarranted taking advantage of this program by participants as it has happened in the past.
All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 25,000 names from Asia,
Australia, New Zealand, Europe, North and South America, Middle East and Africa as part of our
International Promotions Program. We hope your lucky name will draw a bigger cash prize in the
subsequent programs.
To begin your lottery claims, please contact your claims agent below
MR WILSON ALFRAD,
DIRECTOR OF FOREIGN OPERATIONS
MEGA TRUST AGENCY
MADRID SPAIN
E-Mail:infomegatrust@netscape.net
TeL:0034-606-103-455
Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than 30th october 2005.Claims that are not made
before the above date will be returned to the MINISTERIO DE ECONOMIA Y HACIENDA. And also be
informed that 10% of
your lottery winning belongs to (IBERO PROMOTION COMPANY S,A.) Because they are the company
that bought
your ticket and played the lottery on your email address name, NOTE this 10% will be remitted after you
have received your winnings prize because the money is insured in your email address name already.
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your
reference
and batch numbers in every correspondence with us or your claim agent. send to your agent your
Telephone & Fax number, your full name and residential address including your international passport or
other valid identification proof. The processing of your payment will start immediately and your agent must
send you fund processing form, which you must complete and return to them. Furthermore, should there
be any change of address,please do inform your claim agent as soon as possible. A copy of your lucky
Prize winning certificate and insurance will be sent to you by your claim agent prior to the transfer of your
fund by our paying bank,
CONGRATULATION!!!
Once again from all members of our staff and thank you for being a part of our International promotions
program. we wish you continued good fortunes.
Sincerely,
MRS. MONICA WALLACE

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam