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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• 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 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.
  • +34699657406 (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.
  • assistencia.s.s@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: mrs martina mardonado <lotomadrid2006@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2006 15:19:29 +0200
Subject: RE: AWARD NOTIFICATION FINAL RESULT.


EMAIL SWEEPTAKES MADRID

Ref. Number: MST/ 014P/877/110/9U,
Batch Number: 9865-98884-P47M
Sir/Madam,
We are pleased to inform you about the result of the MICROSOFT LOTTO Programs, MADRID, held on the 30th of MAY, 2006. Your e-mail address attached to ticket Number MS 7610205 with serial Number 5812-021 drew lucky numbers 9-16-98-69-15-28, which consequently won in the first category.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay of € 280,350.00 (TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY EURO) in cash credited to file Reference Number MST / 014P/877/110/9U. This is from total prize of €10, 000,000.00 (TEN MILLION EURO) shared among the fifty international winners in this category.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Following the mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your Winning Information confidential until your claims have been processed and your money remitted to your account. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants. All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over 20,000 companies' and 30,000,000 individuals' email addresses and names from all over the world. This promotional program takes place every three years. The software corporation , to encourage some few individuals with web sites and email addresses promoted this lottery.
We hope that with part of your winning, you will take part in our next year International lottery.
To file for your Claim, please contact our Claim Manager: DIEGO NADA (TEL; +34-699657406) Email: assistencia.s.s@hotmail.com All winnings must be claimed not later than 27th of July, 2006. After this date, all unclaimed funds will be included in the next stake. To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in all correspondences. Furthermore, should there be any change of address, do inform our agent as soon as possible.
Congratulations once more from our members of staff and thanks for being part of Microsoft lotto Programme.
Note: Under the age of 18 are not eligible.
Sincerely yours,
Mrs. Martina Mandonado.
(Lottery Co-ordinator)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam