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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:

• 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:
  • "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 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.
  • +447024096901 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • stevengrant_lottoagent@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Parco Gracia" <parcogracia_13@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: stevengrant_lottoagent@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 09 Apr 2007 23:03:53 -0500
Subject: AWARD CLAIM FINAL NOTIFICATION


Euromillions lottery international
www.lottery.co.uk/euro-millions.htm
FLORAL STREET 41
WC2E 9DG LONDON
UK
TEL/FAX: +44 702 409 6901


FROM THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT.
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS DEPT.
REF NO: EUM/11400129/20
BATCH NO:SLI/016/O7


ATTENTION: SIR / MADAM


AWARD CLAIM FINAL NOTIFICATION

We are pleased to inform you of the release of the results of the
EUROMILLIONS LOTTERY/INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM held on the 6th of APRIL, 2007
organized by our international promotions department to promote and
encourage international participation in our high stake lottery.

Your email address attached to ticket number 7533-421 with serial number
67739252 drew the lucky numbers 15-23-29-41-48*03-07 which consequently won
in the 2nd category. You have therefore been approved for a lump payout of
€615,810.00 (SIX HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND TEN EUROS)
in cash credited to file REF NO: EUM/11400129/20. Your fund is now deposited
in a bank and is insured in your name alone. Due to the mix up of some
numbers and names, we ask you to keep your prize tracking number ( Reference
and Batch ) very confidential until your claim has been processed and your
won funds remitted to you in your country, as this is part of our security
protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted taking advantage of this
program by non-participants or unofficial personnel.

All participants were selected through a computer ballots system drawn from
25,000 names from Europe, North America, Asia, Australia, Africa and New
Zealand as part of our international program which we conduct.

To begin your claim, please print, fill and return the payment form attached
to this email to your officially assigned claim agent REV. FR. STEVEN GRANT
on Email: stevengrant_lottoagent@yahoo.com for processing and remittance of
your prize money via your preferred choice of transfer.

Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than 30th of APRIL,
2007. After this date all funds will be returned to the EUROMILLIONS LOTTERY
BOARD as unclaimed funds.

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.

Sincerely,

Parco Garcia
VICE PRESIDENT

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam