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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• 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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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.
  • sec_commission@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs Maria C. Carlos" <glolottery@whipmail.com>
Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2005 18:59:20 +0200
Subject: Congratulations !!


FROM THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION/ PRIZE AWARD.
SPANISH GLOBAL LOTTERY S.A
CALLE Nº 42/B JOSE MARIA, 28922 MADRID SPAIN.

BACTH NO: LMSP/82255742/33
REF NO: LMSP/7393794/33

RE: AWARD WINNING FINAL NOTIFICATION.

This is to inform you of the release of the GLOBAL LOTTER
INTERNATIONAL/WORLDGAMING BOARD. Held on the 14/10/2005. Due to the mix of number, the result was released on the 20/ 10/ 2005.

You have therefore been approved for the lump sum payment of €1.500.000.00 Euros. (One Million Five Hundred Thousand Euros) in Cash credited to file with
REF NO: LMSP/7393794/33.

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your Winning Information confidential until your claims has been processed and your money remitted to you. This is part of our Security protocol advice to avoid double claim and unwarranted abuse of this Program By some participants.

All participants were selected through computer ballot system drawn From Only Microsoft users from 20,000 companies, and 3,000,000 Individual Email Addresses and names from all over the world.

This Promotional program takes place every three years. To begin your Lottery claim, please contact the processing company that have been Appointed for the processing of your lottery winning.

The person appointed to handle your processing and releasing of your Prize money is Agent:
Christopher Cook.
Director Operation of Securities and Exchange Commission S.A Madrid
Spain. Address: C/ Juan Carlos N 47, 28100 Madrid Spain.
Telephone: + 34 656 360 565.
Fax: + 34 685 643 656.
Email: sec_commission@yahoo.com

When contacting your claim agent, please provide him your BACTH NO: LMSP/82255742/33 REF NO: LMSP/7393794/33. You are also advised to provide the under listed information as soon as possible:

1. Name in full:
2. Address:
3. Nationality:
4. Age:
5. Occupation:
6. Phone:
7. Fax:

If you do not contact your claims agent within 7 working days of this Notification, your winnings would be revoked. Winners are advised to keep their winning details/information from the public.

To avoid fraudulent claim, Winners are advised to contact the security company and fix an appointment with them for cash collection in Madrid Spain.


Accept my hearty congratulations once again.

Regards,
Mrs Maria C Carlos.
Promotions Manager

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam