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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.

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:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "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 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.
  • info_claimagent@zwallet.com

Fraud email example:

From: MRS MARIS COMFORT <europromotionlottery@zwallet.com>
Reply-To: info_claimagent@zwallet.com
Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2005 21:39:39 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATION OF YOUR LOTTO WINNING''''''''''


Euro Million Lottery International
Calle Mostoles 23c Piso 6g 28923 Madrid Espana
from: the desk of the vice PRESIDENT.INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE
AWARD..
BATCH: EGGS-541-000-782:
REFERENCE: 67/80/IPD

ATTENTION:AWARD NOTIFICATION.
This is to inform you of the release of the EURO MILLION LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL held on the 10thof Oct,2005.The results were released on the 17th of Oct, 2005.Your email address was attached to ticket number 653-908-321-675 with serial number 345-790-241-671 that drew the lucky numbers of 34-32-90-43-32, which consequently won the lottery in the 5th category. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum of Euros €1, 000.000.00(ONE MILLION EURO,ONLY) This is from 20,000.000.00 (TWENTY MILLION EURO) in cash among the 20 participating finalist playing 6,000 full tickets.


CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Your fund is now deposited with our 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 untill your claims has been processed and the money remitted to your account as this is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming of unwarranted taking advantage of this program by
participants as it has happened in the past.

All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from25,000 names from Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, North and South America, Middle East and Africa .This programme is sponsored by EUROPEAN UNION/BILL GATES and WORLD INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY ORGANISATION TO PROMOTEand ENAHNCE the use of SOFT WARE IN THE GOBAL WORLD.We hope your lucky name willdraw a bigger cash prize in the subsequent programs.

To begin your lottery claims , please contact your claims agent, DR JONATHAN WHITE of Prudent Trust Investors on email : info_claimagent@zwallet.com, with all your information provided that you are the user of this mail,either your country passport or any other indentity.. Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than three weeks from the day you receive this notification. Any claim not made before this date will be returned to the EUROPEAN UNION MINISTRY OF FINANCE of such country.

And also be informed that 10% of your lottery winning belongs to your agent because they are the company that bought your ticket and played the lottery on your name, NOTE this 10% will be remitted. After you have received your winnings prize because the money is insured in your name already.

Remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in every correspondence with us or your claim agent. furthermore, should there be any change of address,please do inform your claim agent as soon as possible. A copy of your lucky winning ticket and your deposit certificate will be sent to you by your claim agent, DR JONATHAN WHITE Once again say
congratulation from all members of our staff and thank you for being a part of our International promotions program. We wish you continued good fortunes.


Sincerely,
MRS MARIS COMFORT

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam