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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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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "euromillion loteria"
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash)
• 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.
  • merittrust1@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: post mailer <post@poster.orangehome.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2006 16:57:58 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: =?UTF-8?Q?Euromillion_Loteria_Espa=C3=B1ol?=


Euromillion Loteria Español
Paseo De La Castellana 15-89, 28008 Madrid. Spain Branch.
Website:www.loteria.com.
Ref. Nº: ES/007/05/12/MAD. Batch. Nº:
GHT/2907/333/05.


YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS WON THE LOTTERY.
We wish to congratulate you over your email success in our computer balloting sweepstake held on 15th September,2006. This is a millennium
scientific computer game in which email addresses were used. It is a promotional program aimed at encouraging internet users; therefore you do not need to buy ticket to enter for it. Your email address attached to ticket star number (4-5) drew the EUROMILLION lucky numbers 3-19-26-49-50 which consequently won the draw in the Second category.

You have been approved for the star prize of EUR 667,248.26. (Six Hundred And Sixty Seven Thousand, Two Hundred and Forty Eight Euros.
Twenty Six Cents).

CONGRATULATIONS!!! You are advised to keep this winning very confidential until you receive your lump prize in your account or optional cheque issuance to you. This is a protective measure to avoid double claiming by people you may tell as we have had cases like this before, please send your Full Name, Home and Office Telephone & Fax Number, Mobile Tel Number and your winning ticket number, reference numbers and amount
won information for processing of your winning fund to our registered claim agent in address below.

Merit Trust Agency.
Mr. Cliff Branssen.
Address: Sin Numero Madrid Spain.
Telephone: 0034636287740.
E-mail: merittrust1@aim.com

Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 15th of October,2006. Please note, in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, remember to quote your reference number and batch number in all correspondence. Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform our agent as soon as possible. Once again congratulations.
Best regards,
Mrs. Emily Simon, Lottery coordinator.

The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to whom or which it is addressed. Unauthorized use, disclosure or
copying is strictly prohibited. The sender accepts no liability for the improper transmission of this communication or for any delay in its receipt.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam