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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!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• 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:
  • "claims 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!
• 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.
  • +447023080140 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: sarahcraig04@zipmail.com.br
Date: Sat, 19 Aug 2006 18:12:20 -0700
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?YOU=20ARE=20ONE=20OF=20THE=20LUCKY=20WINNERS=21=21=21?=

EUROMILLION LOTTERY
184 WESTING FIELD DRIVE,S.W 4,
P.O.BOX 1010
LIVERPOOL,
UNITED KINGDOM.
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 15th August, 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 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 approved for the star prize of GBP 667,248.26. (Six Hundred

And Sixty Seven Thousand, Two Hundred and Forty Eight Great British pounds.

Twenty Six Pence).

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 Telephone & 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 claims agent in address below.

Paramount Trust Agency.
Mr.William Rossman
Tel:(+44)-7023080140
Email: williamrossman@casino.com

Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 15th of September,
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 regards,
Mrs. Sarah Craig,
Lottery coordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam