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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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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • " lotto international " (no such lottery exists)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "million 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "cheque " (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: southern office <southernoff103@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <souternclaimoffice02@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2007 07:07:34 +0000
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS, YOU ARE OUR LUCKY WINNER!!!



Dear Sir/Madam THIS MESSAGE IS FROM THE PROMOTION MANAGER, INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT You are winner of our promotional draw; you have won the total sum of US$ 1, 000, 000, 00 One Million Dollars. Please Contact: ( Mr. OLIVER BOTHA ) YOU’RE CLAIM AGENT,with the email addresses and phone number below, for your immediate claim and payment and please make sure you send your mesege to 2 email addresses.
Tel: + 27-73-191-7052Email claimagent_botha@yahoo.co.ukEmail: claimagent_botha@sify.comPRIZE AWARD NOTIFICATION We are pleased to inform you of the announcement made on 19th August 2007, winners of the KATA FORTUNE LOTTO INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS, as part of our promotional draws. Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from email addresses of individuals and companies from all part of the world as part of our electronic business Promotions Program. Note that your email address qualified for the draw, as a result of your visiting various websites we are running the e-business promotions for. You/Your Company email address, attached to ticket number 746710-1441, with serial number 546-16 drew the lucky numbers 4, 18, 26, 29, 30, 42 and Bonus number 44 and consequently YOU HAVE won in the Second Category. REFERENCE NUMBER: GML-S733-KKT-8197BATCH NUMBER: 65T-DTH77-SAR89Your winning Ticket is Number: K68509 Your Serial Number: 545-19 Your lucky draw Numbers are: 4, 18, 26, 29, 30, 42 Bonus Number 44 Your INSURANCE Number: FLS943/577/XL/GMSA You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of ($1,000,000.00 USD) in cash, which is the winning payout for Second category winners. This is from the total prize money of ($21,900,000.00 USD) shared among the international winners in the Second category. CONGRATULATIONS! Please be informed that your CHEQUE of the sum of ($1,000,000.00 USD) will be issued and deliver to your claim agent for verification before cashier, because the Sponsors of this promotion has insured CHEQUE of your winning amount with your email address, which won you this prize. Therefore you should contact your agent and give them your full names so that they will re-insure your CHEQUE under your full names. Please note that you’re paying agent, will invite you to their office in Johannesburg South Africa for your immediate payment, you have to hurry up and contact the agent immediately. To begin your claim, please call your claim agent Mr. OLIVER BOTHA immediately and also send an urgent message to him, through Phone or Email address. NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers and other information provided above and below in every one of your correspondences with your claims agent. KATA LOTTO PROGRAM IS A BONUS FOR THE WHOLE WORLD FIFA 2010 SOCCER WORLD Congratulations'' once again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our promotions program. Sincerely,MRS. SARAH T. JOHANNES.THIS PROGRAM IS SPONSORED BY: SOUTH AFRICAN LOTTO AUTHORITY, KATA CASINO LTD. AND SUPPORTED BY: (F餩ration Internationale de Football Association) FIFA SUPPORT.All rights reserved©regtrademark.katacasinoltd.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam