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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:
  • "tax clearance" (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
• 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.
  • +34690327096 (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.
  • tomwhity@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "mercygate@terra.es" <mercygate@terra.es>
Date: Tue, 22 May 2007 15:32:51 +0200 (MEST)
Subject: ATTN.WINNER




EURO MILLION LOTTO/PROMOTIONAL PRIZE AWARD.
Paseo De La Leganes
17-19, 28008 Madrid Spain.

We wish to congratulate you over your email success in our Euro Million
computer balloting sweepstake loteria held on 22th of May 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.

You have been approved for the star prize of 500,000.00 Euro.(Five
Hundred Thousand Euro) CONGRATULATIONS!!!
To claim your winning prize you are to contact the appointed agent as
soon as possible for the immediate release of your winnings prize,

IMSATEC FINANCE AND SECURITIES, S.L
Contact Person: Mr. Tom Whity
Tel:+34 690-327-096
Contact Email:tomwhity@aim.com


PROMOTION DATE: 22th of May 2007.
REFERENCE NUMBER: LSLUK/2031/8161/07
BATCH NUMBER: 15/051/IPD

You must contact the appointed agent with your Full Names, Contact
Telephone Numbers, Occupation, place and date of birth, via
email to process the immediate payment of your prize.
Note: You will be require to pay for the issuance of your Tax clearance
certificate only.

The certificate is your legal prove/guarantee which will be submitted
to the bank for the remittance of your fund.
The Validity period of the winnings is for 30 working days hence you
are expected to make your claims immediately, any claim not made before
this date will be returned to the MINISTERIO D E ECONOMIA Y HACIENDA as
unclaimed.

Once again congratulations !!!

Best Regards,
Mrs,Gloria Blaze.
(Lottery Co-Ordinator.)






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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam