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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:
  • "million united states dollars" (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)
• 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.
  • +27733276620 (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.
  • frank_bill_mr@yahoo.ca
  • canada_lotterycentre@canada.com
  • canadalottery_centre@canada.com
  • canada_lotteryagent_zuma@canada.com
  • agent_zuma_canadalottery@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: canada_lotterycentre@canada.com
Date: Sat, 25 Feb 2006 15:03:54 +0200
Subject: Congratulations! Your email address has won USD1.000.000.00,

From: Mr. Frank Bill
No: 125 St Michael's Street
Plot 2A Harrison Drive
Ontario Canada.
(www.canada.com/findit/lotteries/index.html)
Check for LOTTO 6/49

Email: frank_bill_mr@yahoo.ca
Email: canada_lotterycentre@canada.com
Email: canadalottery_centre@canada.com
Customer Service: 680 NCA 85914
Ref: EAAL/851OYHI/04
Batch No: Lotto 6/49
Draw Coupon: Match 6+B


WINNING NOTIFICATION


THIS LOTTERY IS SPONSORED BY THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT
FOR THE PROMOTION OF THE 2010 WORLD CUP TO BE HOSTED
IN SOUTH AFRICA.

We happily announce to you the draw of the Euro-Afro-
American Sweepstake Lottery International programs held
on the Sat Feb 18 2006 in Essex United Kingdom and
Canada Your e-mail address attached to ticket number:
B9564 75604545 100 with! Serial number 46560 drew the
winning numbers 17/20/24/28/31/41 with a bonus Number
18,for LOTTO 6/49 under the choice of the lottery in
the 2nd category of daily three. You have therefore
been approved to claim a total sum of US$1.000.000.00
(One Million United States Dollars) in cash credited
to file EAAL/9080118308/04.

This is from a total cash prize of US $130,000,000.00
Million dollars, shared amongst the first One-Hundred
and thirty (130) lucky winners in this category
worldwide. Please note that your lucky winning number
falls within our Afro booklet representative office in
Africa as indicated in your play coupon, because this
particular draw was selected to promote the 2010 World
Cup to be Hosted in South Africa hence your winning
information must be kept to enable you participate in
our subsequent games before the grand finale. In view
of this, your US$1.000,000.00 (One Million United
States Dollars) would be released to you by an
accredited commercial Bank in South Africa. Our African
agent will immediately commence the process to
facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you
contact him.

All participants were selected randomly from World Wide
Web site through computer draws system and extracted
from over 10,000,00 companies and personal e-mails. For
security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning
information confidential till your claims is processed
and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you
deem fit to claim your prize. This is part of our
precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and
unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous
elements. Please be warned. To file for your claim,
please contact our corresponding agent in South Africa
immediately you read this message for quick and urgent
release of your fund, contact information is as follow:
Mr. R. ZUMA, Tel: +27-73-327-6620. email:
(canada_lotteryagent_zuma@canada.com) Or
(agent_zuma_canadalottery@yahoo.com)To avoid
unnecessary delays and complications, please quote your
reference/batch numbers in any correspondences with our
designated agents.

Congratulations once more from all members and staff
of this program that has successfully won this
competition. Thank you for being part of our
promotional lottery program. Yours Sincerely,
Mrs.Gladys Owen United Kingdom Zonal Co-coordinator
Mrs.Patricia Hope Asst. Gen. Sec Mr. Grey Johnson
Canadian/American Zonal Secretary General.
Switzerland Zonal Co-coordinator For African Winners Dr
Bill Wilson. African/European Head Office
Baumgarten-strasse 15 Postfach 686 Geneva CH-8201
Schaffhausen Dr Peter Martins Head South African
Offshore Payment Office Madrid, Spain. Thanks for your
Co-operation in anticipation. Contact:
(www.canada.com/findit/lotteries/index.html) Check for
LOTTO 6/49.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam