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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:
  • "transfer of your funds" (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.
  • +34691878959 (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.
  • stepinstoneag@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: terezas@terezasmas7.orangehome.co.uk
Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 20:00:15 +0100 (CET)
Subject: 2007 AGAIN!!!


2007 AGAIN!!!
*******************************************
MAX WELL STAKE INC.
HEAD OFFICE:
CALLE NURIA PEREZ 21-23,
2835 VIZCAYA,BILBAO,
SPAIN.
26/01/2007
******************************************
Sir/Madam,

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the MAXWELL STAKE INC (international program) held on the 19th January, 2007. Your e-mail address attached to ticket #: 24044322816 with prize # 23568111/12 drew $1,000,000.00 which was first in the 1st Category of the draws.

You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of ONE MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS (US$1,000,000.00) in cash credited to reference number: AFA/4721015418/NT made available from a total cash prize of Ten{10} Million United State Dollars, shared amongst the first Ten (10) lucky winners in this category. This year Lottery Program Jackpot is the largest ever for Snowball Lottery.

Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 20 days of this notification, after the expiration of that time frame, if your fund is unclaimed, it will be refunded to us and included in our next draws. We hope you will use part of your cash prize to participate in our next $18million draws in March 2007.
Lastly, in order to avoid unnecessary delays/complications with the transfer of your funds to you, please always remember to quote your Code number{s} in all correspondence with our legal adviser.
*******************************************
STEPPING LAW GROUPS
Mr. David Alvarez
Tel:+34-691-878-959
E-mail:stepinstoneag@aim.com
*******************************************
Furthermore, should there be any change of your present address, please notify us immediately so to make the appropriate adjustment.
Congratulations from the management and staffs of MAXWELL STAKE INC.
*******************************************
Yours faithfully,
Mrs.Teresa Lopez.
Coordinator/Manager

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam