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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "stamp duty" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• 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!
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: Simeon Martins <simemartins@yahoo.es>
Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2007 22:35:43 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: NOTARIZATION/LEGALIZATION FEES


EQUITY LAW FIRM
Address: Pintor Rosales,
52 28008 Madrid, Spain.
Tel: 0034 669445197

Attn: Mr Luiginw Hertz,

We acknowledge the receipt of the mandatory requirements, we are pleased to inform you that after due verification of your file, you have been verified as the real winner of the lottery, congratulation!!!

To enable us proceed with the processing and clearing of your winning prize, we have to legalize all the winning documents through the Justice Ministry for certification and authentication. We also have to pay the stamp duty fee to enable us procure your Winning Certificate and your Payment Approval Certificate which we have to tender to the Bank confirming you as the bona fide beneficiary of your prize for immediate release of your funds.

You are advice to discharge immediately the sum of One Thousand Nine Hundred and Twenty Euros only (€1,920.00 Euros) this fee is to enable us notarize/legalize your fund with the MINISTRY OF JUSTICE. MADRID SPAIN (Ministerio de Justicia) that your fund is exempts from Money Laundry and Drug Trafficking and also endorse on your behalf the final fund release order documents with the MINISTRY OF ECONOMY & FINANCE MADRID SPAIN (Ministerio de Economia & Hacienda) for approval of transfer of your fund (€525,000.00 Euros) to your designated account.

You are to discharge the notarization/legalization fee independently; hence deduction cannot be made from your winning claim herein due to the insurance bond policy covering your fund. This insurance bond policy was imposed to make sure you receive your fund (€525,000.00 Euros) in full and to protect your winning claim from any unlawful tampering or theft by any individual, agents, e.t.c and to avoid unforeseen circumstances.

NOTE: We want you to know that it is not our responsibility as your Lawyer to help you pay the notarization/legalization fee, neither is it possible for us to deduct it from your Lottery Winning Prize as the winning prize as been covered by the insurance bond policy in favour of you the winner and it is not possible for any alteration whatsoever.

We advice you to reverse back to us immediately to keep you informed on how the payment of the notarization/legalization fee (€1,920.00 Euros) should be made, to enable us proceed/conclude the necessary on your claim.
We hope to have informed you correctly and looking forward to your urgent cooperation.

Yours Faithfully,

Barrister Simeon Martins
(Legal Adviser Officer)



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam