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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:

• 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.
  • +31642976481 (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.
  • adamsrudd@netscape.net

Fraud email example:

From: MARION GONZALEZ <mariononce@zwallet.com>
Date: Fri, 14 Oct 2005 13:41:34 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS LOTTERY WINNER

FROM: THE DESK OF MANAGING DIRECTOR
ONCE SPANISH SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY
HEAD OFFICE MADRID, SPAIN.
REF: EGS/2551256003/04
BATCH: 14/0017/IPD
ATTENTION: WINNER,
RE: AWARD FINAL NOTIFICATION.
We are pleased to inform you of the released results of the
ONCE SPANISH SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY/INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION PROGRAMS
held on the 13TH of OCTOBER 2005.
Your name was attached to a ticket number 94918 with serial number 041
drew the lucky numbers 3 8 2 1 9 which consequently won the lottery in
the 1ST category. You have therefore been approved for lump sum pay out
of 450,000. 00(FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND EUROS ONLY) in cash
credited to file REF N: EGS/2551256003/04. This is from total cash prize of
FIVE MILLION ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND EUROS (5.1 MN EUROS) shared among the SIX
international winners in this category.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Your fund is now deposited to your reference and due to the mixed up of
numbers and names, we ask you to keep this award top secret from public
notice until your claim has been processed and your money remitted to
your account as this is a part of our security protocol to avoid double
claiming or unwarranted taking advantage of this program by
participants. All participants were selected through a computer ballot
system drawn from 25,000 corporate and personal names from Europe,
South America,Australia, Asia, and North America as part of our international
promotions program, which we conduct once every year. We hope with a part of
your prize,you will take part in our end of year high stake for 1.3 billion
EUROS
International Lottery. Please note that your lucky winning number falls
within our zone C {AMSTERDAM} European booklet representative office for
payment.
To begin your claim please contacts the agent handling your payment.
MR: ADAMS RUDD
The Payment and Logistics Manager
Tel: +31 642 976 481
Email:adamsrudd@netscape.net
For processing and remittance of your prize money to any designated
account of your choice. Remember that all prize money must be claimed
not later than 31ST OCTOBER 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 tour 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 PRIZE CLAIM TRACK
MANAGING DIRECTOR N 20432722008
--

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam