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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "lottery winners international e-mail programs"
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claim 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: MRS COMFORT JOSE <euromillioninterlottery@walla.com>
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 18:48:35 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS YOU ARE A LUCKY WINNER!!!


FROM: INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY BOARD
PROMOTION/PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
REFERENCE: 2843/1063/HDP
BATCH: BDFG/1936/9351/05:

RE: PROMOTION EMAIL LOTTERY BONUS RESULTS.
Dear winner

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Euro millions Lottery Winners International E-mail programs held on the 20th August 2006. The result of our computer draw of this day reveals your E-mail attached to Ticket Number025-11476886 with serial number 2022 drew the lucky number 18 -19 -21-32-35-39-42 which consequently won the lottery prize awards in the 2nd category, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of €750.000.00 Euro only. (SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND EUROS ONLY) CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your winning information confidential until your claim has been processed and your money remitted to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants. All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over 100,000 company and 50,000,000 individual email addresses and names from all over the world.

This lottery was promoted and sponsored by Bill Gates, President of Microsoft, and the world's largest software company in order to enhance and promote the use of Internet Explorer Users and Microsoft-wares around the globe. This promotional program takes place every three years. We hope with part of your winning you will take part in our end of year 50 million Euro International lottery. Your prize award has been insured in your names and ready for claim. To begin your claims therefore, you are advised on final notice and as a matter of urgency, to contact our licensed and accredited claim agent for overseas lucky Winners for the processing of your prize awards winning and payment to your designated bank account. Contact the, Customer Support Unit

EURO SECURITY COMPANY S.A,
CONTACT OFFICER: MR ABERT ALLEN
Tel: 0034 687138 665
E-mail: eursec@ozu.es

Remember, all winning must be claimed not less than four weeks, after this date all unclaimed funds will be included in the next stake. Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications please remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all correspondence. Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform our agent as soon as possible. Congratulations once more from our members of staff and thank you for being part of our promotional program. Note: Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.
Sincerely yours,
MRS, COMFORT JOSE
(Lottery Co-ordinator).
CALLE DE PINTO, BORJAS
BLANCAS. 61105. MADRID SPAIN.
Website: www.loteria.com

N.B. Please do not reply to this mail. Contact your claim agent.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam