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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!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• 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:
  • "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)
• 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: "head office" <lotteryboard@gmx.com>
Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2008 21:45:40 +0200
Subject: your email address won the lottery


Free Loteri­a Nacional La Primitiva.
Calle Galileo, 32-4
Madrid Branch, Spain.
Reference numbers: ES6075b0119
Batch numbers:ND/19734231
website:www.freelotto.com
       YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS WON THE LOTTERY.
We wish to congratulate you over your success in our computer balloting
sweepstake held on 27th March, 2008. 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 11,17,31,35,36,50 drew the lucky star
numbers which consequently won the draw in the Second category. You
have
been approved for the star prize of Seven  Hundred And Fifty Three
Thousand, Eight Hundred And
Thirty Five Euros.(¤753,835.00).
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
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, In other to file for your claim, you have to Contact your Lottery
Agent Roberto Barroso for processing and contact him immediately for
you claim prize. 

Email: roberto@contractor.net

Telephone-  0034600856824


Avda. de la Constitution 14, E-6 28850 - Torrejon de Ardoz (Madrid)
YOUR SECURITY FILE NUMBER IS Z-90237-Y67/U4 (keep personal).
 
If you are under the age of 18, you are automatically disqualified for
this star prize.
Congratulations once more from all members and staff of this program.
Yours faithfully,
Mr. Paloma sanz
Online coordinator.   

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam