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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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• 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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• 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")
  • "foreign service manager" (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)
  • ",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)
  • "00,000.00" (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!
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • axasecuritasmadrid@yahoo.es (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: JOSE LUIS MIGUEL. <sweeptakepromo@yahoo.es>
Reply-To: axasecuritasmadrid@yahoo.es
Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2007 16:27:21 +0100
Subject: YOUR REPLY NEEDED


FROM THE DESK OF THE MANAGING DIRECTOR
PLAZA DE COLON E-28830,
MADRID, SPAIN
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION/PRIZE AWARD DEPT.

=

ATTENTION: REF NUMBER :AJ/2551256003/01
BATCH NUMBER: 000750013 =
=

=
=

=
=

RE: AWARD CLAIM /FINAL NOTFICATION.
This is to inform you on the release of the EL- GORDO SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY =
PROGRAM held on the 9TH OF DECEMBER 2007. Your name attached to ticket number =
025-11-464-992-750 with serial number 2113-05 drew the lucky numbers =
13-15-16-21-34-36 which consequently won the lottery in the 3RD category.

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of =80815,950.00 ( =
EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND TEN EUROS ONLY) in cash =
credited to file with REF. NO. AJ/2551256003/01 and BATCH NO. 000750013. This =
is from a total cash prize of =8035,468,770 (THIRTY FIVE MILLION FOUR HUNDRED =
AND SIXTY-EIGHT THOUSAND, SEVEN HUNDRED AND SEVENTY EUROS ONLY) .

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

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

All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from =
25,000 names from Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, America and North =
America as part of our International promotions program which we conduct =
twice every year. We hope your lucky name will draw a bigger cash prize in =
the end of the year high take of =8065,000,000.00 international lottery.

To begin your claim, please contact your claims agent, MR ALONSO CHAMARTIN =
The foreign service Manager of AXA SECURITY COMPANY S.A. on TELL: 0034 606 =
809 338, FAX: 0034 91 291 9505 Email: axasecuritasmadrid@yahoo.es for the =
processing and remittance of your winning prize money to a designated bank of =
your choice.
Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than, 15th OF JENUARY =
2008 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 will be paid to AXA SECURITY COMPANY S. A. after you have received =
your money.

NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember =
to quote your reference and batch numbers in every correspondence with your =
agent. Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform =
your claims agent as soon as possible.

Congratulations once again from all our members of staff and thank you for =
being a part of our International promotions program.

YOURS SINCERELY,

JOSE LUIS MIGUEL.
VICE PRESIDENT

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam