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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
• 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.
  • marcoluca20032003@yahoo.it

Fraud email example:

From: "SERGIO BELLONI." <hopefoundationlotto@zwallet.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: marcoluca20032003@yahoo.it
Date: Thu, 5 Jan 2006 16.28.02 +0100
Subject: Winning Notification From Hope Foundation Lotttery Organisation.

FROM THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
HOPE FOUNDATION E-MAIL LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL
PROGRAM INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD.
ADDRESS:VIA TURATI 22-24 MILAN
BACTH NO: HFTE/EU/1377/88788/004
REF. No: HFTE/EU/1570/60824/004
WINNING NOTIFICATION / PROCESSING ADVICE
This is to inform you of the release of the E-MAIL LOTTERY BALLOT
INTERNATIONAL/ WORLD GAMING BOARD held on the 7TH OF December 2005. Due
to the mix up of number, the results were released on the 24TH OF December
2005.
Your email address attached to Ticket No:5286394537 with Serial No
9114572523 drew the lucky numbers of 01-09-33-40-67 which subsequently
won the lottery in the 1st category.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of
€1,450,000.00 EURO(ONE MILLION FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND EURO
ONLY) in credited to a file reference number KHLM 7663452987 This is
from total prize money of €7,250,000.00 Euro shared among the international
winners in our 1st -5th categories. All participants were selected through a computer
ballot system drawn form 25,000 company email addresses and 3,000,000
individual email addresses from all search engines and website all over the world as
part of International Promotions Program,conducted every TWO years ,and this is
promoted and sponsored by eminent personalities. CONGRATULATIONS! Your funds is
now in custody of a financial/Security company insured in your FILE REFERENCE and covered with HIGH
INSURANCEPOLICY
Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your
winning information confidential until your claims has been processed
and your money Remitted to you. This is part of our security protocol to
avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some
participants.To process your claim, please contact your file/claim
officer:
MR.MARCO LUCA OF HOPE FOUNDATION E-MAILS INTERNATIONAL
CORPORATION,SPA.on email(marcoluca20032003@yahoo.it) Make sure that you quote your winning
references in all your correspondence with them.
Please be informed that NON RESIDENCE of ITALY will be required to
procure an Affidavits of Lotto Claim/Court clearance certificate from the Court in
ITALY prior to European Gaming Board as required by the paying Authority.
Please be aware that your Paying Authority will Effect Payment Swiftly
upon satisfactory Report, For due processing and remittance of your winning
prize to designated account of your choice, please treat as urgent.
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delay and complications, please
remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in everyone of your
correspondences with your agent and all reply must be via email as to ensure the legibility.

Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform your
claims agent as soon as possible.
Note that all winning must be claimed not later than 30th January
2006.
After this date all unclaimed, funds will be included in the next
stake.
Congratulations once more from our members of staff and thank you for
being part of our promotional program.
Note: Anybody under the age of 21 is automatically disqualified.
Yours Sincerely,
SERGIO BELLONI.
Lottery Coordinator

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam