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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:
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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.

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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.
  • jo_martins24@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Euromillion Loteria Germany AWARD 2006 <euromillion@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: euromillion4@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 12 Dec 2006 13:02:46 +0100
Subject: Euromillion Loteria Germany AWARD 2006


Euromillion Loteria Germany AWARD 2006
Hammerbrookstrasse 50
20098 Bonn.
Ref. Nº: ES/007/05/12/MA.
Batch. Nº: GHT/2907/333/05.
YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS WON THIS YEAR EURO MILLION LOTTERY.
We wish to congratulate you over your email success in our computer balloting sweepstake held on 12-12-2006. 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 approve for the star prize of EUR 667,248.26. (Six
Hundred And Sixty Seven Thousand, Two Hundred And Fourty 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 Tel & 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 addrres below.
APEX Trust AGENCY ,
Dr.John Martins
E-mail:jo_martins24@yahoo.com
TEL,+49 151 104 791 29
Rememer, all winning must be claimed not later than 29-01-2007.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 regard,
Mrs. Emily Simon,
Lottery coordinator.
This promotional program takes place every year. This lottery was promoted
and sponsored by THE MANAGEMENT OF THE STAATSLOTERIJ COMPANY B.V AND SULTAN OF BRUNEI, we hope with part of your winning you will take part on our next year €2 million international lottery.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam