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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:
  • "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!
• 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.
  • +34636540023 (Spain, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: MRS MARIA SANCHEZ <juanitojose@walla.com>
Reply-To: groupground@walla.com
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 15:23:29 +0200
Subject: WINNING CONTACT





LOTTO SHOP WORLD WIDE
FROM: PROMOTION/PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
REF: 241918906-076
BATCH: 00189/04

ATTN: LUCKY WINNER,

WINNING NOTIFICATION / FINAL NOTICE

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the of the Lotto Shop World Wide programs held on the 24th AUGUST 2006. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number 241918706-076 with game Number 54568 drew lucky numbers 16,18,29,33,38,42 which consequently won. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of €150,000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Euro) CONGRATULATIONS!!

All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over 100.000.00 company and 1.000.000.00 individual email addresses and names from Middel East, Asia, Africa, Canada, Europe North and south America, Oceania and around the world. To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent;

Mr. Juanito Jose
Group Ground Services S.L
Madrid, Spain;
Tel: +34-636-540-023
Emails:groupground@walla.com


Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your Winning information confidential until your claims have been processed. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participant.

Please, note that you will be required to pay for the issuance of your winning certificate. Be notified that all winnings must be claimed not later than 7th SEPTEMBER 2006. After this date all unclaimed winnings will be null and void. In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all correspondence. Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform our agents as soon as possible.

Congratulations once more and thank you for being part of our promotional program.

Note: Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.

Sincerely yours,

MRS MARIA SANCHEZ
Winning Co-ordinator .

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam