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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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:
  • "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "(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!

Fraud email example:

From: vittosparo01@comcast.net
Date: Sat, 29 Sep 2007 00:49:18 +0000
Subject: IMPORTANT NOTICE VITTORIO FONDAZIONE (30th anniversary program)

VITTORIO FONDAZIONE.
Corso Ercole I d'Este 44,
Ferrara 44100 - Italy.
Foundation's Officer,
Fondazion Di Vittorio, ITALY
http://www.fondazionedivittorio.it

IMPORTANT NOTICE

To Whom It May Concern;

To celebrate the 30th anniversary program, 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$245,000.00 (Two Hundred And Forty Five
Thousand United States Dollars) to 100 lucky recipients. 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.

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$245,000.00 (Two Hundred
And Forty Five 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. (You are required to fill the form
below and email it to our Executive Secretary below for qualification
documentation and processing of your claims. After contacting 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.

FULL NAMES:__________________________________
ADDRESS: _________________________________________________
STATE:__________________________________
ZIP: ______________
COUNTRY________________________________
SEX:_______________
AGE:__________________
OCCUPATION:________________________
E-MAIL ADDRESS:_____________________________
TELEPHONE NUMBER:_____________________

Executive Secretary- Fabio Giovanni
Email: info_vittofond@stromppost.com
On behalf of the Board kindly, accept our warmest congratulations.

Regards.
Mr. Sparo Malcom
{Foundation Officer}

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam