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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
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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +34657405421 (Spain, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Andrew Kinnon" <andrew_kinnon@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2006 14:01:08 +0000
Subject: Loteria Primitiva

Sirs,

 

An obvious scam arrived by normal post today - your website confirmed my suspicions, even the amount matches €615,810. I am attaching photographs of the documents which do not include my details at all - very unsophisticated.

 

Envelope is branded openSam, postmarked Malaga on 13 Oct 2006, with a postage stamp not a franking machine print. Address format is all wrong:

 

Lastname Firstname Initial

Roadname HouseNumber

PostCode TownName

U.K.

 

The company name used is Euro Security Company SA and the letter is "signed" by Don Carlos Antonio. The claim agent to phone is Mr Gyn Fernandez Tel: 0034-65-740-5421 Fax 0034-65-153-6452 or 0034-65-778-0583.

 

It occurs to me that it was posted the day before the UK's National Lottery had a £20 million triple rollover, to arrive immediately afterwards - surely not a coincidence.

 

If you would like more details from me, please contact me.

 

Andrew

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam