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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
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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:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash)
• 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!

Fraud email example:

From: "Emily johnson" <infomailer100_49@msn.com>
Reply-To: mainlandgroup@walla.com
Date: Thu, 05 Jan 2006 10:24:49 +0000
Subject: CONGRATULATION Winning notification.Contact your claims agent now

Euromillion Loteria Español
Paseo De La Castellana
15-89, 28008 Madrid.
Spain Branch.

Ref. Nº: ES/007/05/12/MAD.
Batch. Nº: GHT/2907/333/05.
YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS WON THE LOTTERY.

We wish to congratulate you over your email success
in our computer
balloting sweepstake held on 20th December, 2005.
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 star number
(4-5) drew the
EUROMILLION
lucky numbers 3-19-26-49-50 which consequently won
the draw in the
Second
category.
You have been approve for the star prize of EUR
667,248.26. (Six
Hundred And Sixty Seven Thousand, Two Hundred And
Fourty Eight Euros.
Twenty
Six Cents)

CONGRATULATIONS !!!

You are advised to keep this winning very
confidential until you
receive
your lump prize in your account or optional cheque
issuance to you.
This
is a protective measure to avoid double claiming by
people you may tell
as
we have had cases like this before, please send your
Full Name,Home and
Office Tel & Fax Number, Mobile Tel Number and your
winning ticket
number,reference
numbers and amount won information for processing of
your winning fund
to
our registered claim agent in addrres below.

Mainland Trust Security Service
Mr.Phillip Weeks
Address: Avenida de America 12
Madrid Spain.

E-mail:mainlandgroup@walla.com
Rememer, all winning must be claimed not later than
30th January,
2006.Please note, in order to avoid unnecessary
delays and
complications,
remember to quote your reference number and batch
number in all
correspondence.
Furthermore, should there be any change of address
do inform our agent
as
soon as possible.

Once again congratulations.

Best regard,
Mrs. Emily johnson,
Lottery coordinator.
The information transmitted is intended only for the
person or entity
to
whom or which it is addressed. Unauthorised use,
disclosure or copying
is
strictly prohibited. The sender accepts no liability
for the improper
transmission of this communication nor for any delay
in its receipt

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam