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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:
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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:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "deadline" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• 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.
  • +27839680894 (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.
  • claimsdept@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "royal national" <royalnationalot@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 03 Aug 2005 20:11:06 +0000
Subject: ++CONGRATULATIONS++

INTERNATIONAL/PRIZE AWARD DEPT
REF: OGS/231174216/05
BATCH: 14/097/LPD /SL

RE: WINNING NOTIFICATION / FINAL NOTICE

Sir/Madam

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners
International programs held on 1st August 2005 by Royal National Lottery an
organization sponsored by the government in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Your e-mail address attached to ticket number 2051-1465-126-629 with serial
number 34132-99 drew lucky numbers 9-14-09-72-31-21, which consequently won
in the 2nd category, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out
of Euros 1,200,000.00 Equivalent. (One Million Two Hundred Thousand Euros
Only).

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your winning
information confidential until your claim 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.
All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from
over 100,000 company and 50,000,000 individual email addresses and names
from all over the world. This promotional program takes place every year. We
hope with part of your winning you will take part in our end of year Euros
50 Million International lottery drew.
For Further instructions on how to file for your claim, please contact our
fiduciary agent:

NAME: Mr. Frank Davies
EMAIL: claimsdept@sify.com
PHONE NO: +27-83-968- 0894.

Remember that all winnings must be claimed not later than two weeks. After
this date all unclaimed funds will be included in the next stake. Please
note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications please remember
to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all correspondence.
Furthermore, should there be any change of addresses do inform our agent as
soon as possible.
Congratulations once more from our members of staff and thank you for being
part of our promotional program.
Note: Anybody that is unable to meet up with his/her claim before the
stipulated deadline will be automatically disqualified.



Sincerely yours,
Mrs. Rita Villa.
Lottery Coordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam