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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• 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:
  • "from: the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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.
  • +34653136676 (Spain, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "lottery winner" <euro_loterias@yahoo.es>
Date: Tue, 11 Dec 2007 16:52:18 +0100
Subject: contact your agent

EUROMILLONES LOTERIAS Y APUESTAS DEL ESTADO
CALLE AROYO NO. 13 PISO 4G
28030 MADRID ESPANA
FROM: THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT.
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD.
BATCH: EGS/22504002/03 , REFERENCE:15/0018/IPD
DATE:11TH DECEMBER 2007
ATTENTION:
RE:AWARD NOTIFICATION.
This is to inform you of the release of the EUROMILLONES LOTTERY
PRIMITIVA held on the 25th november 2007 Due to the mix up of numbers,
address and the holidays, the results were released on the 10th november 2007
Your email address attached to ticket number, 50745-0 with serial
number 168-07632472-034 drew the lucky numbers of 03 04 27 29 37 which
consequently won the lottery in the 5th category.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of Euros
431,942.20c)(FOUR HUNDREH AND THIRTY ONE THOUSANDS,NINE HUNDREH FORTY
TWO EUROS AND TWENTY CENT)in cash credited to file with REF.
NO.EGS/3662367114/13. This is from a total cash prize of Euros
18,693,642,00)
Shared among the twenty three international winners in this category.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Your fund is now deposited with our Security Company and insured in
your behalf.Due to mix up of some numbers and address, we ask that you keep
this award from public notice until your claim has been processed and
money remitted to your account as this is part of our security protocol
to avoid double claiming or unwarranted taking advantage of this
program by participants as it has happened in the past.
All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn
from (six million) names from Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe,
North and South America, Middle East and Africa as part of our
International promotion program. We hope your lucky email address will
draw a bigger cash prize in the subsequent programs.
To begin your lottery clai m, please contact your claiming
agent,Mr.JOSE MIGUEL,Foreign operation manager EUROMILLONES LOTTERY/
ECOBUREAU SECURITY & FINANCE COMPANY on
Tel:+34-653-136-676,Fax:+34-651-389-558
or via email:ecobureau@europemail.com
for the processing and remittance of your winning prize money to a
designation of your choice.
Remember,all prize money must be claimed not later than 31st december 2007.
Any claim not made before this date will be returned to the
MINISTERIO DE ECONOMIA Y HACIENDA.And also be informed that 10% of
your Lottery Winning belongs to (IBERO PROMOTION COMPANY).Because they
are the promotion company that bought your ticket and played the
lottery on your behalf,this ten percent will be remitted after you have
received your winnings because the money is insured already.
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications,please
remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in every
correspondence with us or your agent.Furthermore,should there be any
change of address,do
inform your claims agent as soon as possible.An original copy of your
prize Winning Certificate will be sent to you after you have claimed
your winning.Congratulations once again from all members of our staff
and thank you for being part of our International promotion programs.
We wish you continued good fortunes.
Sincerely,
Mr. ANTHONIO GOMEZ,
VICE PRESIDENT

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam