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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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "to your nominated bank account" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
• 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: georgewatter <georgewatter88@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 27 Aug 2006 11:55:26 +0100
Subject: CONGRATULATION


AVD. ALCALA NO 8 2B
28014 MADRID SPAIN INSURED PROSEGUR
FROM: THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT.
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPT
REF NO: ES/6785437/06
BATCH NO: ESP/018/O6
WEBSITE : www.euromillions.org
PRIZE CLAIM TRACK: ES/453/MB/68/3-Z

ATTN : DATE: 25/08/06
RE: AWARD NOTIFICATION, FINAL NOTICE
We are pleased to inform you of the release of the results of the EUROMILLONES S.A.SWEEPSTAKES LOTTERY/INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM held on the 15th of August, 2006. Organized by our marketing department to promote and encourage international participation in our mid of the year high stake lottery.
Your name attached to ticket number 7533-421 with serial number 67739252 drew the lucky numbers 12- 36-43-18-24, -46-29, which consequently won in the 2nd category. You have therefore been approved for a lump payout of €1,500.000,00 (ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED EUROS ONLY) in cash credited to file REF NO: ACN/11500369/25.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Your fund is now deposited with a security company insured in your name alone, due to mixed up of some numbers and names, we ask you to keep your prize tracking number very confidential until your claim has been processed and your won fund remitted to your nominated bank account, as this is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming. All played participants were selected from 25,000 names from Europe, North America, Asia, Australia, Caribbean, Africa And New Zealand as part of our international program which we conduct once every year. We hope that with a part of your prize, you will take part in our up coming end of the year high stake €1.8 billion International lottery.
To begin your claim, please contact your claim agent, GEORGEWATTER, Foreign Operation Manager, CLEARING ONLINE S.A on TEL: +34660190536, for processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated bank account of your choice.
Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than 31th SEPTEMBER, 2006. After this date, all funds will be returned to MINISTRY OF ECONOMY as unclaimed. Also, for your information, 10% of your prize money belongs to your claim agent as a part of their commission. This commission will be paid to PROSEGUR SEGURIDAD S.A only after you have received your fund in your designated account.
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference and prize tracking numbers in every of your correspondence with your agent.
Sincerely,
MIGUEL VINCENT
VICE PRESIDENT
SIGNED…………………

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam