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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "international lottery programme" (no such lottery exists)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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!

Fraud email example:

From: euro__million@zipmail.com.br
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2007 11:33:16 +0200
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?AWARD=20NOTIFICATION=3A=20?=

AWARD NOTIFICATION:
Securitas Seguridad España S.A.
C/Barbadillo, Sin Numero,
28042 Madrid, Spain
(Admitted 1986)

Sir/Madam,

We are pleased to inform you of the result winners of Loterias International
Lottery Programmes held on 27th August, 2007 from the online Lottery success.
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 Euros 874,000,00 Euros (Eight Hundred And Seventhy Four
Thousand Euros Only).To claim your winning prize you are to contact the
appointed agent as soon as possible for the immediate release of your winnings:

Dr. Louiz Cruz
Securitas Seguridad España S.A.
C/Barbadillo, Sin Numero,
28042 Madrid, Spain
(Admitted 1986)

E-mail::securitas15@ozu.es
Ref No.ES/112/56/09/MD
Batch No: WNTO/2791/WD/ES
Lucky No: 31-09-76.49-520
Serial No: MUOTI/36780

Note: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 put in place to avoid people
applying for your winnig fund,as we have had cases like this before.

The Validity period of the winnings is for 14 working days hence you are
expected to make your claims immediately, any claim not made before this
date will be returned to the MINISTERIO DE ECONOMIA Y HACIENDA .

Once again congratulations !!!
Best Regards,

Mrs.Laura Jones.
Program Assistant

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam