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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "fiduciary 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!

Fraud email example:

From: "million sweetakes" <millionsweetakes@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: ems_secretary1@yahoo.it
Date: Fri, 07 Oct 2005 22:13:57 -0500
Subject: CONGRATULATION

Euro Sweepstakes
12 Bridge Street,
Staines Middlesex TW18 4TP
United Kingdom.
Ref:EMS/4080318306/04
Batch: 19/07/EC11
WINNING NOTIFICATION:

We sincerely announce to you the result of the draw of the Euro Millions
05/49 held on the Friday 4th,September 2005 in London, UK.
Your e-mail address attached to ticket number:5436467704 with Serial number
Z87968DX drew the Winning numbers: 20 21 26 32 46 08 09,which subsequently
won you the lottery Jackpot.You have therefore been approved to claim a
total sum of EUR12,348,100 (Twelve Million, Three hundred and Fourthy Eight
thousand,One hundred Euros) in cash, credited to file with reference number
EML/4080318306/05.

All participants for the online version were selected randomly from the
World Wide Web through a computer draw system and extracted from over
100,000 unions, associations, and corporate bodies that are listed online.
This promotion takes place weekly. Please note that your lucky winning
number falls within our European booklet representative office in Europe as
indicated in your play coupon.

In view of this, your EUR12,348,100 (Twelve Million, Three hundred and
Fourthy Eight thousand,One hundred Euros) would be released to you by the
paying Bank.To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent:

Mrs. Angela M. Jones
The EMS Foundation
Email:
Provide her with the information
below:

1.Name:
2.Address:
3.Marital Status:
4.Occupation:
5.Age:
6.Sex:
7.Nationality:
8.Country Of Residence:
9.Telephone Number:
10.Fax Number:
11.Draw Number above:
12.Annual income:

Congratulations once more from all members and staff of this program.
Thank you for being part of our draw lottery.

Sincerely,
John Moore
EMS Zonal Coordinator.

NB: YOU MUST BE 16 OR OVER TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam