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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:

• The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "vittorio fondazione" (not involved with lotteries)
  • "vittorio foundation" (not involved with lotteries)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "attorneys " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +447024091815 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +447024014631 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • mrterrence-unoffice@o2.pl

Fraud email example:

From: "Fondazion Di Vittorio, ITALY" <secretary.fondazionoffice2@yahoo.it>
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2007 04:02:31 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: CONTACT*** {UNO-UK OFFICE}*** FOR THE ACCREDITION OF YOUR DONATION PARCEL



From The Desk of Mrs. Antonella Giovani

VITTORIO FONDAZIONE.
Corso Ercole I d'Este 44,
Ferrara 44100 - Italy.

Concern:Derik Bohmler

This is to acknowledge the receipt of the requested data and the confirmation of your reliability in this universal programme. Do note that I have forwarded the produced data, to the head office of the Vittorio Foundation (ITALY) and the UNO-UK head office (Organisation assigned to handle your payment) in United Kingdom.

The Vittorio Foundation in conjunction with the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS),United Nations Organization (UNO) and the European Union (EU) is giving out a yearly donation of US$500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) to 40 lucky recipients These specific Donations/Grants will be awarded to 40 lucky international recipients worldwide; in different categories for their personal business development and enhancement of theireducational plans. At least 15% of the awarded funds should be used by you to develop a part of your environment.

This is a yearly program, which is a measure of universal development strategy.The objective is to make a notable change in the standard of living of people all around the Universe (From America to Europe, Asia to Africa and all around).

The Vittorio Foundation has been assured of highest organization standard courtesy of the United Nations.It is our belief that we can achieve a great positive change in the general welfare of the universe through this program.

Note that your country is not the only country that is benefiting from this donation. Beneficiaries have been chosen from countries from all continents.The idea of this donation is that within ten years from now,there will be notable richness among many unusual people around the world.

Based on the random selection exercise of internet websites and millions of supermarket cash invoices worldwide, you were selected among the lucky recipients to receive the award sum of US$500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) as charity donations/aid from the Vittorio Foundation,ECOWAS, EU and the UNO in accordance with the enabling act of Parliament.(Note that all beneficiaries email addresses were selected randomly from over 100,000 internet websitesand a shop's cash invoice around your area in which you might have purchased something from).

The Vittorio Foundation has discovered a huge number of double claims due to beneficiaries informing close friends relatives, attorneys and third parties about their donations. As a result of this, this close friends relatives, attorneys and third parties try to claim the prize on behalf of the real recipients. The Vittorio Foundation has lost millions of dollars to this fraudulent people, and have reached a decision from headquarters that any double claim discovered by The Vittorio Foundation, will result to the Lottery office canceling that particular donation, making a loss for both the double claimer and the real beneficiary, as it is taken that the real recipient was the informer to the double claimer about the donation. So you are hereby advised once more to keep your all informations strictly confidential until your claim has been fully recovered.

Included in this letter is your donation pin number to be used when claiming your donation. Your donation pin number is "21556770665477". This number should be kept strictly confidential by you, as you will use it in receiving your donation.

You are to immediately contact the Payment officer in the UNO-UK office in London, England for claim of your donation. Please do contact the officer in the below information in furtherence you will be expected to bear the mandatory charges to insure your funds for your own benefit before living the country to your destination.

Qualification numbers (-222-6747,E-900-56)

CONTACT INFORMATION:-
MR.AJAY TERRENCE VASA
UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION (UNO)
UN-HEAD OFFICE.
3 WHITEALL COURT
SW1A 2EL.
LONDON ENGLAND.
EMAIL: mrterrence-unoffice@o2.pl
OFFICE +44-702-409-1815 (MONDAY 8AM-FRIDAY 6PM)
MOBILE: +44-702-401-4631

Do note that on contact with MR AJAY TERRENCE VASA, you are to provide him with your Full Name and Qualification Numbers. This will enable the UN office to verify your claim with the files which have been sent to them.

Please contact MR AJAY TERRENCE VASA immediately. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Signed,
Mrs. Antonella Giovani
Foundation Secretary.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam