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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:
  • "claim 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.
  • ephraimkobin@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: swisslottery@atmail.com
Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2006 14:15:49 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATION YOU WON $1M USD /ONLINELOTTO BONANZA






YOU WON $1M USD /ONLINELOTTO BONANZA
SWISS LOTTERY ONLINE GAMING CORPORATION

Our Dear Winner,

You won the sum of $1.M,(One million United.States Dollars from the Swiss Lottery
and Gaming Corporation).The winning ticket was selected from a Data Base of
Internet Email Users, from which your Email Address came out as the winning
coupon.

We hereby contact you to claim the winning amount quickly as this is a monthly
lottery. Failure to claim your win will result into the reversion of the fund to
our following month lottery.
You are therefore requested to contact immediately our Claims Department below
quoting your winning number :ROL-05215796.

To begin your claim, please contact your claim agent;
Name: Mr. Ephraim Kobindi.
Tel: +0027-82-547-5005.
Email:ephraimkobin@yahoo.com
Johannesburg Regional Office:
123 Rivonia Road, morningside, Sandton Jhb
South Africa.


Provide the following informations needed to process your winning claim.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


Full ...................................
Age: ..................................
Sex: ...................................
Residential address: ...................
Nationality: ............................
Occupation: .............................
Post held: ..............................
Tel(s): ..................................
Fax: .....................................
Company name: ............................

once again Congratulation
Regards.
Mrs.Anne Colsweat.
(Co-ordinator)







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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam