419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

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.
This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "national lottery promotion" (no such lottery exists)
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "keep this confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
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.
- citisecurities.finance@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY PROMOTIONS SPAIN"
<citisecurities.financeee@gmail.com>
Reply-To: <citisecurities.financee@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2015 18:31:32 +0100
Subject: Claim Your Winning Lottery Through Our Agent Contact Below

INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY PROMOTIONS SPAIN

PLAZA ESPANA
28008 MADRID. SPAIN.
TEL/FAX : 01134 603 145 000

Ref Nº: F/008045160777 ESP
Batch Nº: F/100000433 ESP

DATE:20-04-2015 ATTENTION: STAKE WINNER,
RE: AWARD NOTIFICATION FINAL NOTICE
We are pleased to inform you today the 20TH day of Apr. 2015 about the release of the SPANISH CLASSICA LOTTERY/INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM Held on the 14th of Feb. 2015, your name attached to the ticket number 025-11-464-992-750 drew the lucky numbers 6 5 3 2 2 Bonus Ball 45, which consequently won the lottery in the 3rd category. You have therefore been approved for a lump Sum Pay of 915,000.00 DOLLARS (NINE HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS) in Cash Credited to File REF NO: F/008045160777. This is from a Total Cash Prize of 75,756.420.00 EUROS shared among International winners in this Category. CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Your fund is now deposited in a reliable bank insured to your name. Please note that your claim and batch numbers are the key to your funds, you are to keep this confidential until your claim has been processed and your money remitted into your Designated Bank Account as this is part of our protocol / strategy to avoid double claiming or unwarranted taking of advantage of this programme by participants. All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 250,000 names from Europe and America as part of our International promotions program, which we conduct twice every year. We hope with a part of your prize you will take part in our next high stake EUROS 3.3 BILLION INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY.

To begin your claim, please contact your claims agent The English department of CITI SECURITIES & FINANCE.COMPANY S.A MADRD SPAIN, MR LUIS NADAL ON TEL: 01134 672 898 422.FAX: 01134 911 820 326. EMAIL: citisecurities.finance@gmail.com for processing and release of your Fund. You are expected to be present in our office in MADRID, SPAIN, during the Processing to sign all legal papers and In order to avoid unnecessary delay and complications, Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than 29th of May. 2015. After this date all funds will be returned to the MINISTERIO DE ECONOMIA Y HACIENDA as unclaimed.

Also be informed that 5% of your winnings belong to your claim agent and his company as fee for their services to you, but will only be paid to them after you have received your winning fund. NOTE: You are expected to be in our MADRID Office to claim and sign the fund legalization documents or you may pay for a home delivery or bank transfer to your account In order to avoid unnecessary delay and complications, Due to the mix up of some numbers and names, we ask you to keep this award confidential to yourself alone, and out from public notice until your claim has been processed and your money remitted to your nominated account as this is part of our security measure to avoid double claiming or unscrupulous act by non-participants taking advantage of this program. Congratulations once again from all our staff

Yours Sincerely
MRS. VERÔNICA CHRISTIANO
Vice President

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam