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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "million us dollars" (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!
• 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.
  • +34669517950 (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.
  • macarthyparthy@netscape.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: marcus garvin <marcus@marcusgarvin.orangehome.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 3 Jan 2007 13:29:56 +0100 (CET)
Subject: CONTACT YOUR CLAIM AGENT


EL GORDO SPANISH SWEEPSTAKE
GATE WAY LOTTERY COMPANY
CALLE AROYO NO 44-47, PISO 4G 28030 MADRID ESPAÑA
FROM: THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT.
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD..
BATCH: EGGS-545-608-987: REFERENCE: 33/6727/IPD
ATTENTION:
AWARD NOTIFICATION.
This is to inform you of the release of the EL-GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA LOTTERY held on the 28TH of August 2006. The results were released on the 18th,December, 2006. Your email address was attached to ticket number 764-153-550-189 with serial number 375-876-275-431 that drew the lucky numbers of 90-59-55-26-49, which consequently won the lottery in the 3rd category. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum of payent of Euros 255,000:39c (TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY-FIVE THOUSAND EURO,THIRTY NINE = CENTIMOS ONLY) in cash. credited to file with REF:N=BA.EGS/3291-9847/1743. This is from US $75,000,000.00 (SEVENTY FIVE MILLION US DOLLARS) in cash among the 116 participating finalist playing 6,000 full tickets. CONGRATULATIONS!!! Your fund is now deposited with our Security Company and insured in your name. Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep this award from public notice untill your claims has been processed and the money remitted to your account as this is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming of unwarranted taking advantage of this program by participants as it has happened in the past.
All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from25,000 names from Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, North and South America, Middle East and Africa as part of our International Promotions Program. We hope your lucky name will draw a bigger cash prize in the subsequent programs. To begin your lottery claims , please contact your claims agent, MR.PARTHY MACARTHY(macarthyparthy@netscape.net ) on Telephone number: 0034-669-517-950
Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than two weeks from the day you receive this notification. Any claim not made before this date will be returned to the MINISTERIO DE ECONOMIA Y HACIENDA. And also be informed that 8% of your lottery winning belongs to your agent because they are the company that bought your ticket and played the lottery on your name on your behalf, NOTE this 8% will be remitted. AFTER you have received your winnings prize because the money is insured in your name already. NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in every correspondence with us or your claim agent. furthermore, should there be any change of address, please do inform your claim agent as soon as possible.
CONGRATULATIONS!!! Once again from all members of our staff and thanking you for being a part of our International promotions program. we wish you continued good fortunes.
Yours Faithfully.
MR Marcus Garvin.
LOTTERY CO,ORDINATOR.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam