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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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 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.
  • +27725409839 (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.
  • saclaimdept@mailbox.co.za (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: salotteries@thepub.co.za
Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2006 08:33:43 +0100
Subject: Lottery Winning Notifications

FROM THE DESK OF THE CO-ORDINATOR
SOUTH AFRICAN LOTTERY DEPARTMENT
105 2ND AVE. SANDTON, 1892
JOHANNESBURG,
SOUTH AFRICA.




WEB NOTIFICATION OF LOTTO WINNINGS:

This is to inform you that have been selected for a cash prize of $1,000.000.00
(one million one United state dollars.) International programs held on the 28th
of January 2006 in the (Johannesburg).

The selection process was carried out through random selection in our computerized
email selection system(s) from a database of over 250,000 email addresses drawn
from all the continents of the world.

This lottery is approved by the South African Gaming Board and also
Licensed by the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR). This
promotional lottery is the tenth of its kind and we intend to sensitize the public.

To begin the processing of your prize you are to contact your claims officer
through our accredited Prize Transfer agents as stated below:


Mr.Steve Lutuli
Tel: +27-72-540-9839
Email:saclaimdept@mailbox.co.za

Contact your claims officer and provide him with the following,
your secret pin code.. x7pwyz2005 and your reference number
BWBI:2551256003/23.

Claims Requirements:

1.Name in full--------------------------------------------------------------
2.Address-------------------------------------------------------------------
3.Nationality---------------------------------------------------------------
4.Age-----------------------------------------------------------------------
5.Occupation----------------------------------------------------------------
6.Phone/Fax-----------------------------------------------------------------
7.Present Country-----------------------------------------------------------

If you do not contact your claims agent within 14 working days of this notification,
your winnings would be revoked. Winners are advised to keep their winning details/
information from the public to avoid fraudulent claims.(IMPORTANT)pending the
transfer/claim by Winner.
Accept my hearty congratulations once again!
Regards,

Susan Nkosi
Lottery Co-ordinator

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam