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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:

• 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")
• 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.
  • +34634078037 (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.
  • axainversiones@yahoo.es (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: euroluck@euromilloneslotto.info
Reply-To: axainversiones@yahoo.es
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2007 06:34:07 +0000
Subject: YOU WON 500,000.00 EUROS!!!






EuroMillion Lottery Spain.
Ref. Number: ESP/323/07/21.
Batch Number: MAD/1369/34/07.

Dear Winner,

We wish to congratulate you over your email success in our computer balloting sweepstake held on the 11th of September, 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.

Your email address attached to ticket number (32-231-81) drew the lucky numbers 01-29-34-68 which consequently won the draw in the Second category.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

You have been approve for the star prize of Five Hundred Thousand Euros (500,000.00 Euros)

You are advised to keep this winning very confidential until you receive your lump prize in your account this is a protective measure to avoid double claiming by people you may tell as we have had cases like this before, In other to claim your(500,000.00 Euros) prize winning, which has been deposited in a designated bank. However, you will have to fill the form below and send it to our registered claim agent (AXA SEGUROS COMPANY)for verification and then you will be directed to the bank where your winning funds are deposited in your favour.

FULL NAMES:
AGE:
SEX:
ADDRESS:
EMAIL:
PHONE:
OCCUPATION:
COUNTRY:
AMOUNT WON:
BATCH NUMBER:
REFERENCE NUMBER:

Please you are advised to complete the form and send it immediately to your claims agent (AXA SEGUROS) through this email address: (axainversiones@yahoo.es)to enable them help you processing your claim for prompt collection of your fund from the designated bank.

AXA SEGUROS COMPANY
MADRID SPAIN
Contact Person: Mr. Manfred Williams
(Foreign Services Manager)
Email: axainversiones@yahoo.es
Tel:+34 634 078 037

Note: All prize funds must be claimed before the 28th of September 2007 after this date all funds will be returned back to the Lottery Company as unclaimed fund.

Congratulations once again.

Yours Faithfully,
Mrs. Raquel Domingo
Lottery Coordinator

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam