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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:
  • "claim 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!
• 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.
  • +34638079767 (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.
  • financeagents2@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: WORLD SOFTWARE <worldsoftware2@aim.com>
Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2007 23:58:10 +0100
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOU HAVE WON


254 calle aranques,35456
MADRID,SPAIN.
WROM: TTZRCLBDXRQBGJSNBOHMKHJYFMYXOEAIJ
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION/PRIZE AWARD DEPT,
SCFN: GWK/5333/025648/03UAD.
BATCH: 241/2002/BLL.
Attention: Winner,
The world SOFTWARE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY/PROMOTIONS Madrid Spain, is
Pleased to inform you that your company/individual name attached to the
Ticket numbers 1001-58255563-2285 with serial number 8888/03 drew from
The lucky numbers02-22-00-66-99-85-52-12-36-50,
This consequently won the lottery in the FIRST category. You have
Therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND
Euros (400,000.00 EUROE) in cash credited to security file number
GWK/4578/789834/746YU.This is from a total cash prize of 19 million
EUROE share among ten individuals and six international companies lucky
Winners in this category.
CONGRATULATIONS.
Your funds is now deposited with our Payment/Finance Department in the
Security company to your name, Due to the mix up of some numbers and
Names, we ask that you keep this winning a top secret from the public
Notice until your claims has been processed and remitted to your account as this is a part of the 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 the 100,000 company/individual email addresses from all over the
World as part of our international promotions program, which we conduct
Every decade. We hope with a part of your winnings, you will take part
in our next end of year stake 20 million Euro international lottery.
TO begin your claims, please contact your claim agent in (Lottery
Payment centre),
MR. David Bradley (Director of operations).
TEL.+34-638-079-767
Email (financeagents2@aim.com)
For processing and remittance of your cash to a designated account of
your choice. Remember, all winnings must be claimed not later than 23rd
of January 2007, After this date, All unclaimed funds will be returned
to the promotion company.
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please
Remember to quote your security credited file number and batch numbers
and also with your telephone and fax numbers respectively in every
Correspondence with your claim agent.
Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform your
claim agent as soon as possible.
Congratulations once again from all members of our staff and thank you
for being part of our promotions program and publication.
Yours sincerely,
MR. KENNETH GRAM.
(Promotion Manager).

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam