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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:

• 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:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • ",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!
• 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.
  • +34692563575 (Spain, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • euromillionpromo@europe.com
  • infoactivaseg@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: EURO-MILLIONES SPANISH LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL. <euromillion34@aim.com>
Reply-To: infoactivaseg@aim.com
Date: Thu, 07 Feb 2008 12:55:31 +0100
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOU HAVE WON.


EURO-MILLIONES.
INTERNATIONAL AWARD PROMOTIONS.
LEGANITOS 47-PZA DE ESPAÑA,28013.MADRID-SPAIN.
Email: euromillionpromo@europe.com.
07/02/2008.

PRIZE WINNING NOTIFICATION.
Dear Winner,
The Management and Staffs of the Euro Million Lottery Board wish to congratulate you over your email success in the just concluded Euro Million Spanish Lottery Email promotions program held on Friday the 1st of February 2008.

Note that all email addresses used in this promotion were presented by our International Marketing Department and the draw was conducted via Computer Programmed Selection System in which your email address won in the 2nd Category with the following information: Ticket No: 10-12-24-25-41, with Serial No: 3-5, thereby winning the sum of €712,880.00 {Seven Hundred and Twelve Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty Euros Only} Congratulations.

Due to mix up of some Email addresses, we ask that you keep your winning information confidential until your claim have been processed and your money remitted to you, as this is part of our security protocol to avoid double claims. This promotion takes place every Friday of the week.
To begin your claim, you are to submit your Application Form to our Registered Claim Agent, who shall assist you to process and facilitate the transfer of your winnings fund on your behalf, with the below contact details:

Activa Seguridad, Madrid-Spain.
Contact Person: Mr.Axton Alroy Corliss.
TEL:0034-692-563-575.
Email: infoactivaseg@aim.com
Website: www.activaseguridad.com.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Your Winning Prize is already insured with your Email address,which protects your winning prize from any deduction or loss of your fund as you are entitled to receive your complete winning fund of €712,880.00 {Seven Hundred and Twelve Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty Euros) as the rightful beneficiary/winner.

Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 3weeks (21days) on receipt of this notification. After this date all unclaimed prize will be included in the next stake, and declared unclaimed.
In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, remember to quote your winning email, ticket and serial numbers in all correspondence with us or your agent.

NOTE: YOU ARE TO COMPLETE THE BELOW APPLICATION FORM AND FORWARD IT TO YOUR AGENT, THROUGH THIS EMAIL: infoactivaseg@aim.com INORDER TO ENABLE THEM COMMENCE WITH THE PROCESSING OF YOUR WINNING FUNDS.

1) FULL NAMES:________________________________
2) CONTACT ADDRESS:___________________________
3) CITY/STATE:________________________________
4) COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE:______________________
5) NATIONALITY:________________________________
6) OCCUPATION:_______________________________
7) SEX:____________________AGE:_______________
8) MARITAL STATUS:_____________________________
9) TELEPHONE NUMBER:__________________________
10) MOBILE NUMBER:_____________________________
11) FAX NUMBER:_______________________________
12) AMOUNT WON:_____________________________
13) TICKET NUMBER Nº:_____________SERIAL Nº:__________
14) WINNING EMAIL:____________________
15).ALTERNATIVE EMAIL ADDRESS IF ANY: _____________

Congratulations from all members and staffs of Euro Million Lottery Board.

Sincerely,
Mrs.Eva Rodriguez.
(Head of Operations).
...............................................................................................
NOTE: The first jackpot was worth 15 million Euros. The highest has been over 183,000,000 euros, which was won by three people. The largest single winner was Delores McNamara who won €115.6 million ($139,000,000 or £77,000,000).

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam