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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "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)
• 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.
  • +27739453708 (South Africa, 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.
  • accrdtdbnk@netscape.net

Fraud email example:

From: "Rands Lottery" <randslottery10@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: accrdtdbnk@netscape.net
Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2005 08:23:50 +0000
Subject: ++YOU MADE IT++


FROM: THE LOTTERY COORDINATOR,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT
ATTENTION: (REFERENCE NUMBER: FIFA-424SA13-05 BATCH NUMBER:
5023LT-ZA05)
THIRD CATEGORY WINNER
After a successful completion of the third category draws
Held on 10th October 2005, we are pleased to inform you of
The official announcement today that you have emerged one of
The winners of the "RANDS LOTTO SPECIAL PROGRAMS", which is
Part of our promotional draws. Participants were selected
Through a computer ballot system drawn from 25,000
Names/email addresses of individuals and companies from
Africa, America, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, Middle East,
And New Zealand as part of our International Promotions
Program.
You/Your Company, attached to ticket number 777-78-1105,
With serial number 234-90 drew the lucky numbers 8, 12, 31,
52, 38, 40, (9), and consequently won in the Third Category.
You have therefore been awarded a lump sum pay out of
US$1,300,000.00 in cash, which is the winning payout for
Third category winners. This is from the total prize money
Of US$112,010,000.00 from which fourteen international
Winners in the Third category will be shared.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Your fund is now deposited with ACCREDITED FINANCE BANK,
Bonded/insured in your name. To avoid mix up of numbers and
Names of any kind, we request that you keep this award
Strictly from public notice until the entire process of
Transferring your claims has been completed, and your
Certified banker's Cheque sent to you. This is part of our
Security protocol to avoid double claiming or unscrupulous
Acts by participants of this program.
We also wish to bring to your notice our end of year (2005)
High stakes where you stand a chance of winning up to US$2.5
Million; we hope that with a part of your prize you will
Participate.
Please contact your claims agent immediately, to begin your
Claims process;
MR. DANIEL MOTHSEPE.
SENIOR CLAIMS EXECUTIVE,
ACCREDITED FINANCE BANK.
DIRECT PHONE:+27 739 453 708
EMAIL:accrdtdbnk@netscape.net
For due processing and remittance of your prize money to a
Designated account of your choice. Remember, you must
Contact your claims agent within a week of receiving this
Mail.
NOTE: To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please
Remember to quote your reference and batch numbers provided
Below in every one of your correspondence with your claims
Agent.
REFERENCE NUMBER: FIFA-424SA13-05
BATCH NUMBER: 5023LT-ZA05)
Congratulations once again from all our staff and thank you
For being part of our promotions program.
Sincerely,
BRIDGET WILLIAMS
THE LOTTERY COORDINATOR,
"RANDS LOTTO SPECIAL PROGRAMS".
PHONE:27 737-811-783
Email: info.randslotto@wb.st
N.B. Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the
Winners will result to disqualification. Please do not reply
To this mail. Rather, contact your claims agent whose
Credentials are listed above. All staff of RANDS LOTTO,
ACCREDITED FINANCE BANK, and members of their family as well
As South Africans of all ages are BARRED from this lottery.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam