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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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)
  • "u.k " (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!
• 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.
  • +27730920343 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
  • +27866518725 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • claim_cordinator2700@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "asia cherry" <asia.cherry3@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2008 11:00:28 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS! YOU ARE A WINNER!!


CONGRATULATIONS! YOU ARE A WINNER!!



FROM: MRS. ASIA CHERRY.



International Lotto Office De Padua:

Piazza Emmanuelle 13A,

Padova 45233, ITALY.



Customer Service: 680 NCA 85914

Ref: EAASL/851OYHI/04

Batch: 12/25/DC34

Zonal Draw No: GMLA2-003

Grand Draw No: 12099



Dear Sir/Madam,



*WINNING NOTIFICATION***



We happily announce to you the draw of 2008 International Lottery
programs held on the 30th of May in Rome Italy. Your e-mail address attached
to ticket number: B9564 75604545 100 with! Serial number 46560 drew the
winning:01/10/11/18/19/46, which subsequent won you the lottery in the 3rd
category.



You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of US$820,000.00
(Eight Hundred and Twenty Thousand United States Dollars) in cash credited
to file KPC/9080118308/02.This is from a total cash prize of US $1100,000,00
Million dollars, shared amongst the first One Hundred and thirty (130) lucky
winners in this category world-wide. Please note that your lucky winning
number falls within our Afro booklet representative office in Africa as
indicated in your play coupon. In view of this, your US$820,000.00 (Eight
Hundred and Twenty Thousand United States Dollars) would be released to you
by Reserve Bank South Africa. Our African agent will immediately commence
the process to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact
him.



All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web site through
computer draws system and extracted from over 10,000,00 companies and
personal e-mails. This promotion takes place annually. For security reasons,
you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your
claims is processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you
deem fit to claim your prize. This is part of our precautionary measure to
avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some
unscrupulous elements. Please be warned. If you are not up to 18 years you
are automatically disqualify.



To file for your claim, please contact our corresponding agent in Africa
immediately you read this message before June 30th 2008 for quick and urgent
release of your fund,



PROF. RICHARD HANSON

P.M.B 1090 JOHANESSBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

TELE: +27-73-0920-343

FAX : +27-86-651-8725

E-mail: claim_cordinator2700@yahoo.com



Please fill the form below and send it to the claims agent in South Africa
immediately.



NAME ......................... .....................

COMPANY NAME: .............................. .............

FULL ADDRESS:...................... ......................
SEX:.......................... ....... AGE............................
........ OCCUPATION.................... .........
TEL.......................FAX. ................ (If any)

COUNTRY....................... ..........

E-MAIL........................ ...........



Congratulations once more from all members and staffs of this program that
has successfully won this competition.

Thank you for being part of our third category promotional lottery

Program.



Your's Sincerely,

MRS. ASIA CHERRY.

Italia Zonal Co-coordinator.

MR. LARRY SMITH,

U.k zonal Secretary

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam