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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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 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.
  • hugoignacio@aim.com

Fraud email example:

From: GRAND SLAM <grandslamclaim@web.de>
Date: Fri, 09 Mar 2007 23:36:39 +0100
Subject: Grand Slam award prize




GRAND SLAM LOTERIA ESPANYOL<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>



AVENIDA COSTA DE PLAYER A GOLF 12-34<o:p></o:p>

28030 <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">MADRID</st1:State></st1:place>. ESPAÑA. <o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

*FROM THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT. <o:p></o:p>*

*INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD.*<o:p></o:p>

BATCH #: CA/880078/04<o:p></o:p>



REF/TRACK #: LPBL GO_2006_S10 PDF /EGS/88224649/ 104 <o:p></o:p>



<o:p> </o:p>



ATTENTION- HONOURARY BENEFICIARY.<o:p></o:p>



<o:p></o:p>

*RE: OFFICIAL CERTIFICATION AND RELEASE NOTICE.<o:p></o:p>*

<o:p> </o:p>

This is to inform you of the release of the *GRAND SLAM PRIZE FUND* held on the 17THOF DECEMBER 2006, Due to the mix up of numbers, addresses and names, the results were released on the 22NDOF FEBRUARY 2007, Your name attached to ticket number, 031-1127-841 with serial number 3214-07 drew the lucky numbers of 1/2 which consequently won the lottery in the 3rd category.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of* [€546,924. 56] (*FIVE HUNDRED AND FOURTY SIX THOUSAND, NINE HUNDRED AND TWENTY FOUR EUROS, FIFTY SIX CENTS*)* *in cash credited to file with REF. NO.EGS/88224649/104. This is from a total cash prize of 8,768.770.00 EUROS) Shared among the (Seventeen international winners in this category). CONGRATULATIONS!!!<o:p></o:p>*

*<o:p> </o:p>*

Your fund is now deposited with *EUROPEAN CREDIT UNION*, and insured in your name. Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep this award from public notice until your claim has been processed and money remitted to your account as this is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unwarranted taking advantage of this program by participants as it has happened in the past.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p></o:p>

All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from (Six million) names from Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, North and South America Middle East and Africa as part of our International promotion program. We hope your lucky name will draw a bigger cash prize in the subsequent programs.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

To begin your lottery claim, please contact your claim agent,* f*or the processing and remittance of your winning prize money to a designation of your choice.<o:p></o:p>

*<o:p> </o:p>*

*MR. HUGO IGNACIO, *Foreign operation manager* EUROPEAN CREDIT UNION*,* *on <o:p></o:p>

*Tel: 011 34 914 141 726 (EXT 3) <o:p></o:p>*

*Tel: 011 34 699 666 497<o:p></o:p>*

*Fax: 011 34 651 472 278*<o:p></o:p>

Email: hugoignacio@aim.com [mailto:hugoignacio@aim.com]<o:p></o:p>

Contact Time (<st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Madrid</st1:place></st1:State> time zone): Monday –Friday, 9:00am-19:30pm. Saturday, 9:00am-02pm. <o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than *26th OF MARCH 2007.* Any claim not made before this date will be returned to the NATIONAL TREASURY. And also be informed that 5% of your Lottery Winning belongs to (IBERO PROMOTION COMPANY). Because they are the promotion company that bought your ticket and played the lottery on your name, this Five percent will be remitted after you have received your winnings because the money is insured in your name already. <o:p></o:p>

*<o:p> </o:p>*

Congratulations once again from all members of our staff and thank you for being part of our International promotion programs. We wish you continued good fortunes. <o:p></o:p>

<o:p></o:p>

Sincerely, <o:p></o:p>

MRS. PEDRO MARIONE, <o:p></o:p>

VICE PRESIDENT <o:p></o:p>



<o:p></o:p>



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam