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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• 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!
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +34630850521 (Spain, 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.
  • infoloteria@netscape.net

Fraud email example:

From: "Lotto Winning" <loterian23@msn.com>
Date: Thu, 02 Feb 2006 12:42:32 +0000
Subject: Winning Award Notification.

Free Loteria Nacional SP
Calle Galileo, 32-4
Madrid Branch, Spain.
Reference numbers: ES6075b0119
Batch numbers:ND/19734231
website:www.freelotto.com
YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS WON THE LOTTERY.
We wish to congratulate you over your success in our computer balloting
sweepstake held on 30th
January, 2006. This is a millennium scientific computer game in which email
addresses were used. It is a
promotional program aimed at encouraging internet users.
Therefore you do not need to buy ticket to enter for it. Your email address
attached to ticket number
11,17,31,35,36,50 drew the lucky star numbers which consequently won the
draw in the Second
category. You have been approved for the star prize of One million dollars
($1,000,000.00).
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
You are advised to keep this winning very confidential until you receive
your lump prize in your account.
This is a protective measure to avoid double claiming by people you may
tell.Send your winning ticket
numbers, reference numbers, batch numbers, amount won, and your personal
data to Sanchez Edwardo
for processing of your claim:
Sanchez Edwardo Abogado
Avda. de la Constitución 14, E-6
28850 - Torrejón de Ardoz (Madrid)
Tel: +34 630 850 521
Fax: +34 917 615 122
CONTACT PERSON:
Barrister Sanchez Edwardo or Mrs.Eva Caddy.
Email address:infoloteria@netscape.net
If you are under the age of 18, you are automatically disqualified for this
star prize.
Congratulations once more from all members and staff of this program.
Yours faithfully,
Mrs. Suzan Carlos.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam