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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:
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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)
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "processing fee" (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
• 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.
  • sanmoralsecurity@zwallet.com

Fraud email example:

From: "La-primitiva lottery program." <lindaprimitivainfo@zwallet.com>
Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2006 16:22:50 +0100
Subject: Award winning final information.


FROM THE DESK OF THE MANAGING DIRECTOR
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION/PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
PLAZA DE COLON E-28830, MADRID, SPAIN.

ATTENTION:
REF/EG/2551256003/05
BATCH/000750013.

RE: AWARD WINNING FINAL NOTIFICATION

This is to inform you on the release of the LA-PRIMITIVA LOTTERY PROGRAM held on Tuesday (Martes) 31, Feb, 2006. Your e-mail attached to ticket Number: 025-11-464-992-750 with serial Number: 2113-05 drew the lucky Numbers: 13-15-16-21-34-36 which consequently won the lottery in the 3rd category. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout amouting €220, 000.Euro ( Two Hundred and Twenty Thousand Euro only) in cash credited to file with REF:EG/2551256003/05 and BATCH: 000750013.

This is from a total cash prize of €7,140,000 EURO (Seven Million One Hundred and Fourty Thousand Euro only) Shared among (17)(Seventeen) international winners in this category. Your fund is now deposited with a Security Agent and insured on your behalf. Due to mix up of some Addresses and names, we ask that you keep this award from public notice until your claim has been processed and your money remitted to your account as this is part of our security 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 E-mail addresses and names from Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, America and North America as part of our International promotions program which we conduct once every year. We hope your lucky name will draw a bigger cash prize in the next years highs take Euro 1.3 BILLION inter lottery.

To begin your claim, please contact your claims Agent, Mr. Antonio Perez on the contact information stated below for more directives on the processing and remittance of your award winning money to your designation of your choice.
E-mail: sanmoralsecurity@zwallet.com
Contact person: (Mr. Antonio Perez).

Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than,10th, Feb, 2006, after this date all funds will be returned to the (MINISTERIO DE ECONOMIA Y HACIENDA) as unclaimed fund. And also be informed that your Lottery Winning processing fees/charges will be paid to your Security Agents, and 10% will be paid after you have received your winning money in your country.

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 agent. Furthermore, should there be any change or mistake, do inform your claims agent as soon as possible.

Congratulations once again, from all members of our staff and thank you for being a part of our xmas lotto International promotions program.

Yours Sincerely In Service,
MRS. LINDA A. SANCHEZ.
(VICE PRESIDENT)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam