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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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "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.
  • gtdcs@consultant.com

Fraud email example:

From: DON JOSE ALBERTO <elgolott@message.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2006 19:34:02 +0100
Subject: FROM: THE DESK OF VICE PRESIDENT


EL GORDO SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY COMPANY S.L
C/ VILLAFONTANA 1,No 38-43,MORATALAD.28056.
MADRID-ESPA?A
TEL:+34-900-902-399

16TH JAN 2006

FROM: THE DESK OF VICE PRESIDENT.
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
REF NO: EGS/2551256003/05
BATCH NO:14/0017/IPD

ATTENTION: BENEFICIARY

RE:AWARD NOTIFICATION,FINAL NOTICE.
We are pleased to inform you of the results of the EL GORDO SPANISH SWEEPSTAKE
LOTTERY/INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM held on the 6th JAN,2006.
Your name attached to ticket number 025-11464992-750 with serial number 2113-05 drew
the lucky numbers 4-18-24-30-31-35 wich consequently won the lottery 3rd category.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of € 1,185,010,00 ( ONE
MILLION ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY FIVE THOUSAND, TEN EUROS ONLY) in cash credited to
file REF NO;EGS/2551256003/05.This is from a total cash of €1,8,368,770.00 ( ONE
MILLION EIGHT MILLION THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY EIGHT THOUSAND,SEVEN HUNDRED AND SEVENTY EUROS ONLY ) shared among the seventeen international winners in this category.
Congratulations!!!!
Your fund is now deposited with a security company insured to your name.Due to the
mixed 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 nominated
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
names from Asia,Australia,MiddleEast,Newzealand,Europe and Noth America as part of
our international promotions program which we conduct once every year.We hope that
with a part of your prize,you will take part in our end of year highstake € 2.3
billion international lottery.
To commence your lottery claim please contact your claims agent,MR JOHN LUCAS

foreign services manager EUROLINE SECURITY COMPANY S.A on TEL:0034 662-342 521
FAX:- 0034 605-329-681 Or Via E-mail: gtdcs@consultant.com ,for processing and
remmitance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice.
Remmenber,all prize money must be claimed not later than 25TH FEB,2006.After this
date all funds will be returned to the MINISTERIO DE ECONOMIA Y HACIENDA as
unclaimed.
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications,please remmenber to
quote your reference and batch numbers in every correspondence with us or your
agent.Furthermore,should there be any change of your address,do inform your claims
agent as soon as possible.
Remember that you have to pay your claims agent 10% of your fund after the money
gets to you.
Congratulations again from all the members of our staff and thank you for being a
part of our promotions program.
Sincerely,
DON JOSE ALBERTO
VICE PRESIDENT

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam