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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:

• 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:
  • "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.
  • +34693528109 (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.
  • estrellasgrs@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Comfort johnson <comfortjay@web.de>
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:23:17 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATION!!!


*

CONGRATULATION!!!*



*LOTERIA NACIONAL PROMO AWARD*
FROM:AWARD PROMO DEPT
REF NO: UGS/0007459015/03
TICKET NO: 6784501


ATTN: WINNER.

Congratulation on your email success in our *LOTERIA NATIONAL PROMO* *AWARD* held on 11st july of 2008. This is a millennium scientific computer game, from a software ballot of 500,000 email address across the world and No Ticket was sold.It is a computer innovation programme sponsored by software and electronic companies.You have been approve for the star prize of 915,810.00 Euro.(Nine Hundred and Fifteen-Thousand Eigth Hundred and Ten Euro Only) CONGRATULATIONS!!!
To claim your winning prize, please contact your appointed agent immediately with the following:*
REFRENCE NO: UGS/0007459015/03TICKET NO: 6784501

OTHER INFORMATION:
(a) Full Name: (b) E-mail:(c) Telephone: (d) Fax Number:
(e ) Age:(f) Occpation(g) Contact address
(h) Bank information (if cheque is needed) (i) Country of origin*


Contact Person: EL GARCIA

ESTRELLAS SEGUROS SA
Tel: +34 693 528 109
Fax:+ 34 692 346 749
Email:*estrellasgrs@aim.com* [http://us.mc515.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=estrellasgrs@aim.com]

The Validity period of the winnings is for 15 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 ECONOMIA Y HACIENDA.
Once again congratulations !!!



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam