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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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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:
  • "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.
  • +31616172194 (Netherlands, 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.
  • alexbrooks@alex4all.com
  • alexbrooks2004@netscape.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: ONCE SWEEPSTAKES LOTTERY <alexbrooks@alex4all.com>
Date: Sat, 8 Oct 2005 10:00:03 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS EMAIL LOTTERY WINNER CONTACT US FOR YOUR CLAIMS



ONCE SWEEPSTAKES LOTTERY
FROM: THE DESK OF VICE PRESIDENT.
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
REF NO: EGS/2551256003/02
BATCH NO: 14/0017/IPD
ATTN:nmadmiraal
RE: AWARD NOTIFICATION, FINAL NOTICE.
We are pleased to inform you of the results of the EL ONCE SPANISH
SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY /
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS held on the 22nd of August, 2005
Your Email Address attached to ticket number 02766 with serial number035 drew the lucky numbers 4 -
18 - 24 - 30 - 31 - 35 which consequently won the lottery in the 3rd category.
You have therefore being approved for a lump sum payout of US$
515,810.00 (FIVE HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND TEN US
DOLLARS ONLY) in cash credited to file REF NO: EGS/2551256003/02. This is from a total cash prize
of US$4,126,480.00 (FOUR MILLION ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY SIX THOUSAND, FOUR
HUNDRED AND EIGHTY UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY) shared among the eight international
winners in this category.
Your funds is now deposited with a security company and insured to your name. Due to mix up of some
numbers and names, we ask that you keep this award from public notice until your claim has been
processed and your money remitted to your designated account as this is a part of our standard security
protocol to avoid double claiming of this program by participants and some unscrupulous individuals. All
participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 25,000 names from Asia,
Australia, Middle East, New Zealand, Europe, Africa and America as part of our international promotions
program which we conduct once every year. We hope that with a part of your prize money, you would
take part in our end of year high stake worth US$ 1.3 million international lottery.
To begin your claims please contact:
Mr. ALEX BROOKS
Foreign claims manager on
Tel: +31 616 172 194
Or email: alexbrooks@alex4all.com or alexbrooks2004@netscape.net for the processing and remittance
of your prize money to a designated account of your choice.
Remember that all prize money must be claimed not later than 18th
November 2005. After this date, all funds will be returned to the MINISTRY DE ECONOMIA Y
HACIENDA as unclaimed.
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please
Remember to quote your reference, batch and prize claim track numbers in every of your
correspondence with us or your agent.
Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform your claims agent as soon as
possible. Congratulations again from all members of our staff and thank you for being a part of our
Promotions program.
Sincerely,
MARION GONZALEZ
MANAGING DIRECTOR PRIZE CLAIM TRACK #N 20432722008

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam