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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")
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. )
• 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.
  • segurosmapfre@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: PRIZE WINNER <euromillionpro@aim.com>
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2007 02:17:25 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOU HAVE WON


PRIZE WINNER

Euro Million Spanish Lottery International


International Promotion / Prize Award Dept


Paseo De La Castellana

15-19, 28008 Madrid.

España.

(¡) REFERENCE: 67/80/CCL
( ¡¡)BATCH: EGGS-541-623-782.

YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS WON THE LOTTERY.

We wish to congratulate you over your email success in our computer balloting sweepstake held on 27TH OF APRIL, 2007. This is a millennium scientific computer game in which email addresses were used. It is a promotional program aimed at encouraging internet users; therefore you do not need to buy ticket to enter for it.

The online draws was conducted by a random selection of email addresses from an exclusive list of 29,031 E-mail addresses of individuals and corporate bodies picked
by an advanced automated random computer search from the internet all the continents of the world.
Your company or your personal e-mail address attached to ticket number 653-908-321-675 with serial main number 345-790-241-671 drew lucky star winning numbers 34-32-90-43-32 which consequently won in the 2ND category, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of 560.000.00 Euros.(Five Hundred And Sixty thousand Euros).
CONGRATULATIONS !!!

You are advised to keep this winning very confidential until you receive your lump prize in your account or optional cheque issuance to you. This is a protective measure to avoid double claiming by people you may tell as we have had cases like this before, please send your winning ticket number,reference numbers and amount won information for processing of your winning fund to our registered claim agent in addrres below:
The Claims Officers:
NAME:MRS GISELA WILLIAMS
For:: DR. TOM BLATT
SEGUROS MAPFRE S .A
COMMISION AGENT, SOLE REPRESENTATIVE,)
CALLE ALBERTO AGUILERA 33,DEPARTMENTO, 2c
MADRID -ESPANA
E-mail: segurosmapfre@aim.com
Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 16th May, 2007. Please note, in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, remember to quote your reference number and batch number in all correspondence with your claims agent.

Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform our agent as soon as possible.

Once again congratulations.

Sincerely yours,
MRS,CARLOTA GUILLERMO.

Director Online International Promotions Unit/Lottery Co-ordinator..

The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to whom or which it is addressed. Unauthorised use, disclosure or copying is strictly prohibited. The sender accepts no liability for the improper transmission of this communication nor for any delay in its receipt.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam