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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
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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • ",500,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "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.
  • bancaixaspain@terra.es (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "LOTERIA ESPANA"<emailballot@gmail.com>
Reply-To: <loteriaespanasl@terra.es>
Date: Wed, 8 Jul 2009 11:23:32 +0300
Subject: YOU HAVE WON

REF NO: ROEUSP7775553
BATCH NO: X–8007891324–Z,


YOU HAVE WON

We are pleased to inform you on the release of E-Lotto Internet Promotional Draws Jackpot held in Madrid Spain on the 4th of March of 2009. Your e-mail address , attached to the ticket number 357–0146744–224, with the serial number 51228-07, drew the lucky numbers of 1-M-M-0-0-M+1-0 which consequently won the lottery in the 3rd category.

All email addresses entered for these promotional draws were randomly inputted from an internet resource database using the Synchronized Random Selection System (SRSS).

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of €1,500,000.00 (ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND EUROS) in cash credited to your file with the REF.NO:ROEUSP7775553 AND BATCH.NO: X–8007891324–Z, to be paid through BANK TRANSFER or CHEQUE

Your winning prize is now deposited with a BANK insured with your REF.NO:ROEUSP7775553 for security reasons and will be released for payment by the order of the LOTTERY BOARD after the datas have been verified. We ask you to keep this award confidential and away from public notice until your claim has been processed and your cash remitted to you.
The beneficiary is responsible for the remittance charge of the prize to his/her country.

To claim your prize, please contact your claims agent below, and demand for your lottery claiming form.

MRS ANA SANCHEZ
BANCCAIXA ESPANA
AVDA. GENERALITAT,14
003560 EL CAMPELLO
ALICANTE VALENCIA
TEL: 0034.693.548.407
e-mail: bancaixaspain@terra.es



SINCERELY
JUAN FERNANDO HERNÁNDEZ
(PRESIDENT)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam