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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:
  • "fondazione di vittorio" (not involved with lotteries)
  • "vittorio foundation" (not involved with lotteries)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "please endeavor to " (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)
  • "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "cheques " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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!

Fraud email example:

From: Varanini Riccardo <riccardovaranini77@yahoo.it>
Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2007 22:25:35 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: FONDAZIONE PROCESSING INFO ( VERIFICATION FORM )






Attn: Recipient,


=======================================================================================================================================
The Foundazion di Vittorio, would like to notify you that you have been chosen by the board of trustees as one of the final recipients of a cash Grant/Donation for your own personal, educational, and business development. The Fondazione Di Vittorio, established 1977 by the Multi-Million groups and now supported by the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS), United Nations Organization (UNO) and the European Union (EU) was conceived with the objective of human growth,educational, and community development.

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 $2,500,000.00 (Two Million 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 websites or a shop\'s cash invoice around your area in which you might have purchased something from).

Contact our office with the requested data, you will be given your donation pin number, which you will use in collecting the funds. Please endeavor to quote your Qualification numbers (N-222-6747, E-900-56) in all discussions.
===================================================================================================================================
This letter acknowledges the receipt of your email. After reviewing your email it has been determined that you fit the qualifications required for being a beneficiary of this donation. Please be advised that this donation is a measure of universal development, which was geared up in accordance with UNO, ECOWAS and EU. So you are advised to use this donation for an investment that you know will bring long lasting wealth to you and your family.


Your qualification numbers have been entered into the system. It has been determined that you are a true beneficiary of this donation for $2,500,000.00 USD.

You are to immediately proceed with the process of collecting of the funds. Kindly note that all cheques written from each of the organizations combining to bring up this donations (UNO, EU, ECOWAS & Vittorio Foundation) are with the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS).

This Organization has been given the order to handle the payment, as our office is strictly designated for information and documentation of your donation.

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.

Attached you will find a Vittorio Foundation documentation form, requesting your required particulars. You are to immediately fill the form and return as soon as possible.



FULL NAMES:__________________________________
ADDRESS: _________________________________________________
CITY:_________________________
STATE:__________________________________ ZIP: _____________________
COUNTRY________________________________
SEX:_______________
AGE:__________________
MARITAL STATUS:_________________
OCCUPATION:________________________
E-MAIL ADDRESS:_____________________________
TELEPHONE NUMBER:_____________________

Upon receipt of this information, I will send you the contact information of the ECOWAS officer, in the ECOWAS headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria to handle the payment. All information is strictly confidential and will only be used for the purpose to which it is been requested.


Sincerely,
Mr. Ricardo Varanini
Foundation Secretary.




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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam