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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.

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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:
  • "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.
  • +34679872265 (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.
  • carlosmtsc@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Private mail <lap-inf003@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <carlosmtsc@aim.com>
Date: Tue, 27 Nov 2007 11:59:26 +0000
Subject: Email Award


Email AwardEUROMILLONES AWARD NOTIFICATIONLoterias Y Apuestas Del EstadoCALLE AURORA NO 56,28204 MADRID ESPANA
REF NO: EGL/417331247/03BATCH NO: 72/50685/MMH.
Attn: Beneficiary.
RE: AWARD NOTIFICATION
We are pleased to inform you on the release of the EUROMILLONES INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS PROGRAM held on the 29th of October 2007, as part of our promotion Year bonanza. Your email address attached to the ticket number 134-03650116-211 with serial number 51225-0 drew the lucky number 10-28-40-42 35 / 5-8, which consequently won the lottery in the 2nd category.
You have been approved for a lump sum payout of Euros 615,810.00 (Six hundred and fifteen thousand, eight hundred and ten euros only) in cash credited to file Ref No: EGL/417331247/03.This from a total cash prize of Euros 13,871,320.00 (thirteen million, eight hundred and seventy one thousand, three hundred and twenty euros) shared among the seventeen international winners in this category. CONGRATULATIONS!!
All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over ONE MLLION EMAIL ADDRESSES from Asia, Europe, Australia ,Africa, North and South America as part of our yearly high stake international program.
To begin your claim, please contact your claims agent, CARLOS HURTADO. The Foreign Operations Manager, MUTUAL TRUST SECURITY COMPANY S.A on Tel: +34 679 872 265, Fax: +34 911 817 562 or Email: carlosmtsc@aim.com, for the processing and remittance of your prize.
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, quote your reference and batch numbers in every of your correspondence with us or your agent.
Sincerely,MARIA SANCHEZ. (MRS) VICE PRESIDENT
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam