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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "liberty seguros" (no such agent exists)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claim 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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "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 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.
  • finnfinncferris@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: EURO MILLION LOTTERY <lotospain@aol.com >
Date: Fri, 04 Jul 2008 17:20:42 +0200
Subject:


Computer Ballot Sweepstakes Email Award 2008.
(Euromillion loter=EDa Espa=F1olEuromillionAward 2008).
Paseo De La castellana
15-89, 28008 Madrid.
France, Branch.
YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS WON THIS YEAR EURO MILLION LOTTERY
Sir/Madam,
We wish to congratulate you over your email success in our computer
Balloting held on June 30th 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. You have been approve for the star
Prize of $769,205:00 (Seven Hundred And Sixty Nine Thousand Two
Hundred And Five United State Dollars Only).
To claim your winning prize you are to contact the appointed claim
Agent as soon as possible for the immediate release of your winnings
With the following information=92s below:
LIBERTY SEGUROS AGENCIA
6 rue fernand, 24
28043 Paris France
E-mail:finnfinncferris@yahoo.com
CONTACT OFFICER: MR.Joe Ben
fax: +353818 423 085
(I) Batch No: ESP/LOT/200/39/MD
(ii) Ref No: 728/EUW/098/A51/WIN
(iii) Ticket No: 361-8891
(iv) Lucky No: 10-123-71-72-00
(v) Serial No: MBV/5731
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 information=92s 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 winning fund, as we have had cases like this
Before.
Best Regards,
Mrs.Rita kelvin.
Program Cordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam