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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!

Fraud email example:

From: "MR WILLIAM GOMEZ" <williamgomez@blag.com> (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 22 May 2006 15:14:32 +0200
Subject: aword notification

Euromillones lotera internacional
PLAZA DE LA SOL 2 PISO 2, 28008 MADRID. ESPAÑA
FROM INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
File Ref N:2561000
Ticket N: 695-75 DATE: 22TH OF MAY 2006
ATTN: BENEFICIARY
RE: AWARD FINAL NOTIFICATION.
Euromillones loteria internacional wishes to inform you on the release of the EUROMILLONES LOTERIA DE LA PRIMITIVA PROGRAM held on the 29th of APRIL 2006. Due to mix up of some numbers and names, the results were released on the 16THOF MAY 2006 Your email address attached to ticket number 695-75 with serial number 3214-07 drew the lucky numbers of21 -22-37-39-41-49 which consequently won the lottery in the 5th category.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of 615,810.00 ( SIX HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND TEN EUROS ONLY) in cash credited to file REF NUMBER 2561000. This is from a total cash prize of 16,621,340.00 ( SIXTEEN MILLION SIX HUNDRED AND TWENTY ONE THOUSAND, THREE HUNDRED AND FOURTY EUROS ONLY) Shared among the thirty one international winners in this category. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!
Your fund is now deposited with a security company and insured in your name. Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep this award from public notice until your claim has been processed and money remitted to your account as this is 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, 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 program.
To begin your lottery claim, please contact your claims agent, WILLIAM GOMEZ, Foreign operations manager ESTRELLA SEGUROS S. A. on Tel: 0034 666 995 762 and Fax: 0034 649 637 307 for the processing and remittance of your winning prize money to a designation of your choice.
Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than, 2006 After this date all funds will be returned to the MINISTERIO DE ECONOMIA Y HACIENDA as unclaimed funds. And also be informed that 10% of your Lottery Winning belongs to GMAIL PROMOTION COMPANY S. A. because they entered your name for this draw . This 10% will be remitted after you have received your winnings because the money is insured in your name already.
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference and ticket 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. Congratulations once again from all our members of staff and thank you for being a part of our International promotions program.
Sincerely TRANSLATED COPY
SR FELIPE ANDRES
REG.DEPT.MANAGER

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam