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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "euromillion loteria" (can only win this lottery if you bought a ticket)
• 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")
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "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!
• 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.
  • +34634068237 (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.
  • tysonsmith92@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs.Cluadia Pablo." <euro_loteria2008@hotmail.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: tysonsmith92@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2008 02:47:36 -0800
Subject: From Mrs.Cluadia Pablo.

Computer Ballot Sweeptakes Email Award 2008.
(Euromillion loteria Espanol Award 2008).
www.loteria.com
Paseo De La castellana
15-89, 28008 Madrid.
Spain ,Branch.
Ref No.ES/037/11/06/MD
Batch No: WNTO/7416/VA/ES
Lucky No: 10-12-24-25-41
Serial No: MUOTI/82536

YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS WON THIS YEAR EURO MILLION LOTTERY.
Sir/Madam,
We wish to congratulate you of the release of the result of the Euromillion loteria
Espanol Award 2008 held on 25th January 2008 in Spain Madrid. Your name attached
to the Batch No: WNTO/7416/VA/ES with serial number MUOTI/82536 drew the lucky
number 10-12-24-25-41 which
consequently won the lottery in the category A.

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 €918.656,77 (Nine Hundred And eighten Thousand,Six and Thirty
six Euros seventy seven cent Only).which was Awarded to your Email Address when
rolled in an Email Sweepstakes program
held by the Euromillion loteria Espanol Award 2008 Email Promotion.

To claim your winning prize you are to contact the appointed agent as
soon as possible for the immediate release of your winnings,
You must contact the PAYING AGENT with the following information's below:

Name:.............................
Age:..............................
Sex:..............................
Address:..........................
Email:............................
Phone:............................
Occupation:.......................
Company:..........................
Country:..........................
Appointed Paying Agent Contact is as below:
FIRM NAME:CENTURION SECURITAS,SPAIN
ADDRESS:C./PASCO DE LA CASTELLANA 28,
P2 28046 MADRID,SPAIN
TEL/FAX:+34 911 814 234
MOB TEL:+34 634 068 237
REPLY ONLY ON THIS EMAIL:tysonsmith92@yahoo.com
CONTACT PERSON:TYSON SMITH


The Validity period of the winnings is for 20 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 E CONOMIA Y HACIENDA .

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. And in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications,
please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in every of your correspondence
with our Claim agent Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do
inform your claims agent as soon as possible. Congratulations again from all members
of our staff and thank you for being a part of our promotion program.

Best Regards,
Mrs.Cluadia Pablo.
Program Cordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam