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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "claims 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!

Fraud email example:

From: ElGordo Promotional <elgordoprom4@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2007 09:59:45 -0400
Subject: Winning Notification.


Ref: ITTL/34117HPG/GRCCDraw No.: 2245Category: 2BWinning Number: 08 15 30 31 34 43 40Batch Number: ATP/44863214257/3445328/563Date: 1st August, 2007.WINNING NOTIFICATION!!!We happily announce to you the draws of the inaugural international promotion program ElGordo Lottery of Spain) held in Madrid, Spain on the 28th July, 2007 in which you and five (5) others were selected as provisional winners under draw No. 2245. You have therefore been granted provisional approval to claim a total sum of GBP 685,000.00 (Six Hundred and Eighty Five Thousand Pounds only) as your winning prize.Due to a mix up in some numbers and names, the results of the draw were withheld and released today. For the purpose of security you are therefore strongly advised to keep this award notification away from public notice until your claim has been processed and your prize money paid.All lucky winners are given CLAIMS AGENTS who assists them in handling the process leading to payment of their winnings to them. You are directed to contact your appointed claims agent immediately and quote your reference, Draw number, category, Winning and Batch numbers-all listed above.YOUR CLAIMS AGENTS-MR DAVE McGIVEN.APPALACHIAN CLAIMS SERVICES.ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM.TEL-447024036762EMAIL: appalachianclaimsserv@yahoo.co.ukEMAIL: appalachiancs@myway.comCongratulations once more from all members and staff of this program and thank you for being part of our promotional lottery program.Sincerely yours,Valerie Graham (Ms.)Results Coordinator.N.B. Should there be any changes in address do inform our agent as soon as possible. Do not send your response to this e-mail account.Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam