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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.

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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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "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.
  • +34666213912 (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.
  • escrowsecurities@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: CLAIM OFFICE <awardclaimoffice@yahoo.es>
Reply-To: escrowsecurities@aim.com
Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2006 15:23:06 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!!! YOUR EMAIL HAVE WON THE LOTTERY PROGRAME


SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY COMPANY S.L
C/ VILLAFONTANA 1,Nº 38-43,MORATALAD.28056.
MADRID-ESPAÑA
TEL:+34-666-213-912
FROM: THE DESK OF VICE PRESIDENT.
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
REF NO: EGS/2551256003/05
BATCH NO:14/0017/IPD
ATTENTION: BENEFICIARY
AWARD NOTIFICATION,FINAL NOTICE.
We are pleased to inform you of the release today,{18th July, 2006},of
the EL GORDO SPANISH SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY/INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM held on the 20th JUNE,2006. Your name attached to ticket number 025-11464992-750 with serial number 2113-05 drew the lucky numbers 4-18-24-30-31-35 wich
consequently won the lottery 3rd category.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of € 1,185,010,00 ( ONE MILLION ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY FIVE THOUSAND, TEN EUROS ONLY) in cash credited to file REF NO; EGS/2551256003/05.This is from a total cash of € 16,368, 770.00 ( SIXTEEN MILLION THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY
EIGHT THOUSAND,SEVEN HUNDRED AND SEVENTY EUROS ONLY ) shared among the seventeen international winners in this category.
Congratulations!!!!
Your fund is now deposited with a security company insured to your
name.Due to the mixed 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 your nominated account as this is a 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 from Asia,Australia,MiddleEast,Newzealand,Europe and
Noth America as part of our international promotions program which we
conduct once every year.We hope that with a part of your prize,you will
take part in our end of year highstake € 2.3 billion international
lottery.
Provide them with the information below:
1. FILE REFERENCE NUMBER:
2. BATCH NUMBER:
3. WINNING NUMBER:
4. CATEGORY:
5. AMOUNT WON:
6a. FULL NAME:(MR/MRS)
b. TEL AND FAX NUMBER:
7. CITY/COUNTRY:
8. ADDRESS:
9. OCCUPATION/ORGANISATION:
10. POSITION :
11. DATE OF BIRTH:
12. PRIVATE EMAIL ADDRESS:
13. BANK INFORMATIONS:
To commence your lottery claim please contact your claims agent,MR JOAN
EDWIN ,foreign services manager ESCROW SECURITY COMPANY S.A on
TEL:0034 662-342 521,FAX:- 0034 605-329-681 Or Via E-mail:(
escrowsecurities@aim.com ) for processing and remmitance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice.
Remmenber,all prize money must be claimed not later than 29TH AUGUSTO,
2006. After this date all funds will be returned to the MINISTERIO DE ECONOMIA Y
HACIENDA as unclaimed.
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications,please
remmenber 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.
Remember that you have to pay your claims agent 10% of your fund after
the money gets to you.
Congratulations again from all the members of our staff and thank you
for being a part of our promotions program.
Sincerely,
DON JOSEF DALLAS
VICE PRESIDENT

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam