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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.

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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "into 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.
  • +34655639631 (Spain, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: inform euro <inform@reuro.orangehome.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 1 Nov 2006 20:11:15 +0100 (CET)
Subject: GOOD NEWS


Dear Sir/Madam
EURO LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL
PLAZA DE ALFONSO
B56-58 MADRID SPAIN
TEL:0034-655-639-631
Reply E-mail:informailer@ozu.es
We are officially informing you of the result of the euro lottery
International programs held on the 31th 0f oct 2006 , Your e-mailaddress
attached to ticket number 41278147528df with reference number 01/372/16, drew
winning numbers 857/106/62 andcredited to batch number 2231, which consequently
won in the 2nd category.You have therefore been approved for a pay out
of 250,000 euro (Two hundred and fifty thousand euro).
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Your funds are now deposited and save in bank of españa and will be
transferred
into your nominated bank account either by means of wire transfer or by
whatever suitable means. Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we
ask that you keep your winning information very confidential with the
secretcode(BM025ES) till your claim has been processed and your prize/money
Remitted to you.
This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claims and
unwarranted
abuse of this program by some participants. All participants were
selected
through a computer ballot system drawn from over 50,000 company and
20,000,000 individual email addresses and names from all over the world.
This promotional program takes place annually. We hope with part of
your
winning you will take part in our next year three Million euro/asia
International
Lottery. To file for your claim, you will be contacting MR martins
Alonso the accredited finance agent authorised to process your claims for your
payment(You will receive more information from our fidiciary agent.
This lottery was sponsored by Cortingles incorporation,communidad de
madrid,and other private organisations to help individuals generate fortunes which
would help them expand their business frontiers and assist with
humanitarian concerns. Please Note that winnings must be claimed not later than 20th
of nov 2006.
After this date all unclaimed will be returned to the sponsors against
the next stake coming up in 2007. Please note that in order to avoid
unnecessary delays and complications remember to quote yourreference number in all
correspondence.
Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform us as soon
as possible. Congratulations from our
organisation and thank you for being part of our promotional program.
Sincerely yours
Mrs Martins Alonso
Tel:0034-655-639-631
reply E-mail: informailer@ozu.es

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam