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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• 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)
  • "tax clearance" (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "to your nominated bank account" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
• 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.
  • +27833557121 (South Africa, 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.
  • denisthembanetlotto@unionplus.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. ANTHONIO GOMEZ" <officeonline_14@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 04 Sep 2006 01:42:43 +0200
Subject: LOTTERY AWARD NOTIFICATION.FINAL NOTICE.


€uromillones lotería international
CALLE PIVON Y SANCHEZ NO 8 2B
28014, MADRID, SPAIN.
FROM:THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT.
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPT
REF NO:EGS/2551256003/01
BATCH NO:14/0017/IPD

ATTENTION: BENEFICARY

RE:AWARD NOTIFICATION,FINAL NOTICE.

We are pleased to inform you of the release of the results of the EUROMILLONES SPANISH SWEEPSTAKES LOTTERY/INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM held on the 4TH OF MAY, 2006,organised by our marketing department to promote and encourage international participation in our begin of year high stake lottery.
Your name attached to ticket number 7533-421 with serial number 67739252 drew the lucky numbers 12-36-43-18-24-46-29 which consequently won in the 3rd category.
You have therefore been approved for a lump payout of €1,800,10,.00(ONE MILLION EIGHT HUNDRED AND TEN EUROS) in cash credited to file REF NO:EGS/2551256003/01. CONGRATULATIONS!.

Your fund is now deposited with a security company insured in your name alone, due to mixed up of some numbers and names,we ask you to keep your prize tracking number very confidential until your claim has been processed and your won fund remitted to your nominated bank account,as this is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming.
All participants were selected through a computer ballots system drawn from 65,000 names from Europe,North America,Asia,Australia Caribean, Africa And New Zealand as part of our international program which we conduct once every year.We hope that with a part of your prize, you will take part in our up coming new year high stake € 3.8 billion International lottery.

To begin your claim, please contact your claim agent,DENIS THEMBA, Foreign Operation Manager, ALLIANCE PROMOTION COMPANY S.A on TEL:+27-83-3557-121,FAX:+27-11-5076-933 and EMAIL=[ denisthembanetlotto@UnionPlus.net ] for processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated bank account of your choice.

NOTE: A payment of tax clearance fee is required from every beneficary who is not a SPAINISH citizen. Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than 3RD OCTOBER 2006.After this date all funds will be returned to the MINISTERIO DE ECONOMIA Y HACIENDA as unclaimed. Also,for your information ,5% of your prize money belongs to your claim agent as a part of their commission.This commission will be paid to ALLIACE PROMOTION COMPANY S.A, only after you have received your fund in your designated bank account.

NOTE:In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in every of your correspondence with your agent.Enclosed with this letter is a copy of payment processing form which you will fill and fax to your claims agent.

Sincerely,

MR ANTHONIO GOMEZ
VICE PRESIDENT.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam