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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery 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:

• 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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "fiduciary 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.
  • whitlamwilson@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Silvia Barnett <silvia_barnett_03@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 18 Feb 2007 20:00:26 -0500
Subject: VODAFONE PROMOTIONS


Vodafone Promotions 103 LEYSDOWN DRIVE, HEMEL HEMPSTEAD HP1 2LD LONDON.
UNITED KINGDOM

REF: VFP /26510460037/02
BATCH: 24/00319/IPD


CONGRATULATIONS

We happily announce to you TODAY the draw of the VODAFONE PROMOTIONS, online Sweepstakes International program held on Saturday 17th of Feb, 2007. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 023-0148-790-459 with Serial number 5073-11 drew the lucky numbers: 43-11-44-17-37-10-43, which subsequently won you the lottery in the 3rd category.

You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of US$ 2.5.000,000.00 (Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) in cash credited to file VFP/25041238013/02. This is from a total cash prize of $42.500,000.00 shared amongst 17 lucky winners in this category

All participants for the online version were selected randomly from World Wide Web sites through computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000 unions, associations, and corporate bodies that are listed online. This promotion takes place weekly.

Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet representative office in Europe as indicated in your play coupon. In view of this, your US$ 2.5.000,000.00 (Two million, Five hundred Thousand Dollars) would be released to you by any of our payment offices in Europe.

Your fund is now deposited with a Security company Insured. Our European agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact him. 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. Please be warned.
To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent:

MR.WHITLAM WILSONEmail: whitlamwilson@hotmail.com
CLAIMS MANAGER,
VODAFONE PAYMENT DEPARTMENT

Remember that all prize money must be claimed not later than two weeks, otherwise, will be returned as unclaimed.

Congratulations from the staff and I of the VODAFONE PROMOTIONS.

Yours faithfully,

Mrs. Silvia Barnett
Online coordinator for Vodafone promotions
Sweepstakes International Program. Copyright © 1994-2006All rights reserved. Terms of Service - Guideline





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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam