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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
• 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.
  • +34634088757 (Spain, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: ELENE TABAR SANCHEZ <ocaso@myway.com>
Reply-To: fran_3@myway.com
Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2007 13:30:43 +0200
Subject: FELICIDADES.


Dear Sir/Madam,

We wish to congratulate you over your email success in our computer balloting sweepstake held on 27th March 2007. 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. You have been approve for the star prize of US$715:000:00 (Seven Hundred And Fifteen Thousand US Dollars Only).

To claim your winning prize you are to contact the appointed agent as soon as possible for the immediate release of your winnings:

Mr.Praise KENOYA TAO.
Nacional Seguros S.L.Madrid-Spain.
TELEPHONE NUMBER:+34-6340-88757.
Email;kenota@strompost.net.

Send your full names,telephone and fax numbers and the following information to the approved legal agent on the above email.
Batch No.EEMSPL/179/WAI.
Ref No:-EMSPL/97/007/MH.
Ticket No:- EMWLESP/1897/957.
Lucky No:- 11-34-75-54- 977.
Serial No: - OSIL/07459/AMA.

You must contact the appointed legal agent/adviser,Mr.George Mark with your Full Names,contact Telephone Numbers (Home, Office and Mobile Number and also Fax Number) via email provided above to process the immediate release of your payment into your nominated account or you may be required to travel to Spain for signing and collection of this prize.

The Validity period of the winnings is for 30 working days from the date of receipt,hence you are expected to make your claims immediately,any claim not made on or before the 30th of April,2007 will be returned to the MINISTERIO DE ECONOMIA Y HACIENDA. .

Once again congratulations !!!

Best Regards,

Mrs. Elena Sanchez.
Program Assistant.
for;National Lottery Board.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam