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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:

• 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.
  • +34635391693 (Spain, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • helma001@aim.com

Fraud email example:

From: helma helma <helma@helmahelma.orangehome.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 5 Nov 2006 12:39:57 +0100 (CET)
Subject: RITA JOHN


THE DESK OF THE MANAGING DIRECTOR INTERNATIONAL
PROMOTIONS/PRICE AWARD DEPARTMENT.IN MADRID FREE LOTTO
CASINO AWARD 2006

OUR REF:CL/99/06
YOU’RE REF:CO/578/34/06.
BATCH No:44-694-88-ES
LUCKY No:20/35/49/70/90.

NOTICE

We are delighted to notify you of the result of the
free lotto casino programs held on 02.novenber,2006
your email address were attached to one of the ten
winning Ticket numbers (16/25/22/27)- with Game
(Number 45-60-71.You have therefore been approved for
a lump sum pay out of 250,000.00 (Two Hundred Fifty
Thousand Euro)

CONGRATULATIONS!

All participants were selected through a computer
ballot system from our sponsors databases, including
over 5,000 companies and 20,000 individual E-mail
addresses and names submitted by our agents drawn
from Asia, Africa, Europe, North And South America,
Oceania and around the world. To file for your urgent
claim, please contact our affiliate agent.

HELMA AWARD AGENCY
C/AIPERCINES 9,28830 SAN FEMANDO
DE HENARES MADRID ESPANA
Tel:+34-635-391-693
E-mail:helma001@aim.com
MORRIS hem.

It is part of our security protocol to avoid double
claiming and to minimize identification difficulties
advise you to keep this information confidential until
your claim is processed successfully and to avoid
unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants
to please note that you will be required to pay for
the issuance of your winning Certificate and all
winnings must be claimed not later than
20.December,2006.after this date all unclaimed
winnings will be null and void.

In Order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications
remember to quote your ticket number and game 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.

Yours faithfully,
Mrs.Rita john.
Award Centre Co-coordinador.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam