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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "el gordo " (can only win this lottery if you bought a ticket)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from: the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "a security company " (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. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "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!
• 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.
  • +34605613466 (Spain, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: FLORENTINO GOMEZ <lotospamadrid13@gmail.com>
Reply-To: euromillionsec@yshoo.com
Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2007 12:47:24 +0100
Subject: EL- GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA





EL GORDO SPANISH SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY
COMPANY S.A.
CALLE AROYO NO. 10 PISO ID
28008 MADRID. SPAIN.
TEL:+110 34 679 261 761

FROM: THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT.
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
BATCH:15/0117/B/ A
REFERENCE:BAZ/2551356005/A/Z =
13/12/ 2007/

ATT:DEAR BENEFICIARY

RE: AWARD FINAL NOTIFICATION.

This is to inform you on the release of the EL- GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA =
PROGRAM held on the 18TH sep
2007. Due to mix up of some numbers and EMAIL, the results were released on =
the/ 13/12/ 2007.
Your email attached to ticket number 031-1127-841 with serial number 3214-07 =
drew the lucky numbers of 05-08-19-23=96 41=9649 which consequently won the =
lottery in the 3rd category.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of =80615,810.00 ( SIX =
HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND TEN EURO ONLY) in cash =
credited to file with ..
REF.NO. BAZ/2551356005/A/Z. This is from a total cash prize of =80=
16,621,340.00 ( SIXTEEN MILLION SIX HUNDRED AND TWENTY ONE THOUSAND, THREE =
HUNDRED AND FOURTY EURO ONLY)
Shared among the twenty one international winners in this category. =
CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Your fund is now deposited with a security company and insured in your email. =
Due to mix up of some numbers and emall, we ask that you keep this award from =
public notice until your claim
has been processed and money remitted to your account as this is part of our =
security protocol to avoid double claiming or unwarranted taking advantage of =
this program by participants.

All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from =
25,000 names and email from Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, America and =
North America as part of our International
promotions program which we conduct once every year. We hope your lucky name =
will draw a bigger cash prize in the next years program.

To begin your lottery claim, please contact your claims agent ,DR:PACO RAMON =
Foreign operations manager union security s.a on Tel:+34 605 613 466 and =
Fax:+34 651 059 782
for the processing and remittance of your winning prize money to a =
designation of your choice.

Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than, 27/12/ 2007/ After =
this date all funds will be returned to the MINISTERIO DE ECONOMIA Y HACIENDA =
as unclaimed.
And also be informed that 10% of your Lottery Winning belongs to UNION =
SECURITY COMPANY S. A. because they entered your name for this draw, This =
10% will be remitted after you have received your
winnings because the money is insured in your email and name already.

NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember =
to quote your reference and batch numbers in every correspondence with us or =
your agent. Furthermore,
should there be any change of your address, do inform your claims agent as =
soon as possible.
Enclosed with this once again from all our members of staff and thank you =
for being a part of our International promotions program.

Sincerely
FLORENTINO GOMEZ
VICE PRESIDENT

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam