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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:
  • "part of our security protocols" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +34662557443 (Spain, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Madrid 45054 <freelotto99@easymail.hu>
Date: Thu, 02 Aug 2007 14:48:04 +0200
Subject: URGENTE

F.C.I Headquarters

AEA Sweepstakes

Award Department

Madrid, Spain.

Ref:ALI/309V/06

Batch Number:09/W678/07

2nd  AUG, 2007

www.freelotto.com

 

 We are pleased to announce to you the result of the AEA(Africa-Europe-Asia)Sweepstake program held in Madrid.

 

 Your email address attached to ticket number 56714527/07 with the serial number AL204 and batch number 7888/07/ES and Reference number ES119345W drew the lucky number 31-6-26-13-35-7 which subsequently won in the 1st category of this years program.

 

  You have therefore been approved of the lump sum of five hundred and fifty thousand euros(550.000.00euros),insured and credited to security file number KPC/9118111/07. For the immediate commencement of the release of your award to you,you are advised to make immediate contact with the claims manager with the below given contact details

 

  Name: MR SALBOK DUNCAN

  Email: freelotto_99@ sify.com

  Tel: ++34 662 557 443

  Fax:++34 606 524 138

 

  You will be sent a claims verification form for the formalisation of the transfer of your award. Note that participant were selected randomly from World Wide Web Site through computer draw system extracted from over 100,000 emails of individuals and companies. This program takes place annually.

 

  For security reasons you are advised to keep your winning information confidential until your claim is processed and your award transferred to you. This is part of our security protocols to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements. Please be warned.

 

  To avoid unecessary delays and complications do quote your security file number in all correspondence.

 

  We thank you for being a part of our promotional program and Congratulations from all members and staffs of our company.

 

Yours faithfully,

Mrs . Dorothy  Love

For Claims Manager

 

 

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam