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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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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "service fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "million united state 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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
• 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: victor barr <victorbarr001@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 5 Jan 2008 10:59:10 +0200
Subject: Claim department (Waiting For Your Reply )


01 - 05 - 2008Attention : Syreeta Jones.We are in receipt of your claims file, with reference Number: FER/4690/6103/24 and BATCH NO: 245-379-482 informed that we have in our possession instruments of payment for the sum of $2,000,000.00 (Two Million United State Dollars) to you.With every due respect, we bring to your notice the procedures in which you should abide to, in order for your Won Prize to be processed in accordance with the prescribed Laws, Regulations and Policies of the Lottery Commission/Board. You are expected to choose from our options, which you feel will suite you as regards the process of facilitating the claiming of your won prize. Firstly, You are requested to come down to South Africa personally to process your prize claim as there are certain documentation which needs to be procured from the South African Justice Department as well as the South African Revenue Services in your name as the Bonafide Winner of this lottery. These documents are very important and very vital to the success and release of your Won prize. You shall make signatories of these documents in question before presenting them to the South African Gaming Commission/Board for the authorization and confirmation of the release of your Won Prize respectfully.Secondly, If you are "unable" to come down to South Africa to process your claim personally, we shall assign a very reputable Legal Representative who shall act and represent you on your behalf to facilitate all the needful regarding your claim prize to your best interest and benefit.The Legal Representative shall be the right person that will acquire the required documents from the necessary authorities that shall be presented to the South African Gaming Commission/Board in your favor. Without these documents, there shall be no way your claim prize will be processed hence we believe that you shall confirm to us in your response to this mail the option you wish to abide to so that we can furnish you with further details/information for the proceed of this matter in question.More so, kindly bear in mind that these documents attracts some amount of money which we cannot confirm to you at this very moment as you are quite aware that we are your claims agent and we do not work under the Justice Department hence the Legal Representative will be able to confirm that to you if you are unable to come down. Again, do realize that the Legal Representative shall charge you for his/her Service Fee,which you will have to negotiate between both of you.We hope to receive a quick response from you as time is of essence to this regard.Kindly understand that we are expecting your call as soon as you acknowledge this mail as it is deemed importants, call me and inform me which option suit you most to claim your prize.We shall be awaiting for your response.Once Again Congratulations Truly yours,Mr.Victor Barr
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam