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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:

• 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:
  • "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)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
• 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.
  • +2347028040299
• 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.
  • unitednationslotteryprogram@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • zenithbankgroups_info@ubbi.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: unitednationsng@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:04:40 -0800 (PST)
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS! WINNER UNITED NATIONS LOTTERY


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: unitednationslotteryprogram@yahoo.com



-
UNITED NATIONS LOTTERY PROGRAM



Attention: Winner,



You may not understand why this email came to you.

We have been meeting for the past months and ended 2 days ago with the then Secretary General to the UNITED NATIONS Mr.Koffi Annan. This is regarding the lottery draws he organized before he left the office to help individuals to own a self charity organization so as to help the less privileged in there society.

We are pleased to inform you that your email address was indicated and was drawn,also attached to a ticket number 001768432463 with serial numbers FTS/8070337201/06 and drew the lucky numbers 15-22-24-48-50-37(30) which subsequently won you $800,000.00 (Eight Hundred Thousand USA dollars).

You are advised to contact Mr Jim Ovia of our paying center in Africa, as your winning number was among the list of winners that would be paid from one of our sponsors with world bank Africa unit and he is our representative in Nigeria, contact him immediately for your International Bank Draft of USD$800,000. This funds are in a Bank Draft,so he will send it to you and you can clear it in any bank of your choice and start up a small Charity Organisation in your zone in which we can develop with time depending on your effort.

Therefore, you should send him your full Names,Winning numbers, Telephone Number and your correct mailing address where you want him to send the Draft to you. Contact Mr. Jim Ovia immediately for your INTERNATIONAL BANK DRAFT:

Email: zenithbankgroups_info@ubbi.com
Phone: +234-702-804-0299

Thanks and God bless you and your family. Hoping to hear from you as soon as you cash your Bank Draft. Making the world a better place.



Regards,
\ Secretary-General \line Ban \line Ki-Moon.
\ http://www.un.org/sg/

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam