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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!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• 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:
  • ",000,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
• 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: EURO MILLION SPAIN <info@euro.es>
Reply-To: info-promo@mixmail.com
Date: Fri, 07 Sep 2007 02:21:47 +0200
Subject: YOU HAVE BEEN SCELETED


Sir/Madam

We are Delighted to congratulate you over your email success in our computer =
balloting sweepstake held on 6th Sept. 2007 by euro million.This is a =
Scientific Computer program in which cooperate and individual email addresses =
were used WORLD WIDE. 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 approve for the star prize of 1,000,000.00 euro (One million =
euro).Be informed your winnings has been insured/deposited in a suspense =
account to reference number SP147MD

To claim your prize you are to contact the appointed agent below for the =
immediate release of your winnings

Contact Person:Mr.Mario valesico
Tel:0034 669 644 953

You must contact the appointed agent with your reference number,Full Names, =
Contact Telephone Numbers (Home, Office and Mobile Number and also Fax =
Number) via email to process the immediate payment of your prize.

Once again congratulations !!!

Best Regards,
Dr.Maria Jose
Lottery co-ordinator

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam