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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.

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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:
  • "fifa world cup lottery" (no such lottery exists)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "certified bank draft" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Direction <infoswebplus@free.fr>
Reply-To: f.zumainvestments@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 12:44:03 +0100
Subject: YOU WON 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP LOTTERY DREW




Mr.Frank Zuma
Director=20
(F .Zuma Investments.)
Phone:22993081745
Email: f.zumainvestments@unimail.mn [1]

Attn; Beneficiary,=20

We are the franchise owners of the South Africa 2010 FIFA world cup
lottery draw. We won the right to conduct a yearly Internet lottery for t=
he
host country of the FIFA 2010 world in (cunjuction with other African
nations) from 2006 until the world cup finals in the year 2010.=20

We conducted the first draw successfully during the last qauter of 2006
and all winners were paid their winning accordingly, unfortunately after
the 2008 draw we encountered some problem which made it impossible for us
to inform winners about the draw. When we applied to the government of
African Union for their consent to conduct this year draw they insisted
that we compensate last year winners so as to restore the credibility of
the lottery hence our resolve to contact you for this compensation.=20

We sincerely apologize for the delay in contacting you for this
compensation and
pledge to do our best to make sure that such delay does
not occur in future. Based on the advice and directory of our sponsors we
are to compensate you and other winners of last year with the sum of $1,5=
00
000.00 (One Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars) only. Be
informed that your email address won on our first category based on that
you bare required to provide us with your information which will be neede=
d
to process your payment, the information we need from you before processi=
ng
your compensation payment are as follow; Your full Names:=20

Your Full Address:=20
Your date of Birth:=20
Your phone and fax numbers:=20
Your present occupation.=20

We pay through International certified bank draft, diplomatic courier cas=
h
payment(Depending on your country of residency) or Visa ATM debit card.
Kindly indicate your prefered payment method in your reply as we expect a
prompt response from you.=20

Regards,=20
Mr.Frank Zuma

Links:
------
[1] mailto:f.zumainvestments@unimail.mn

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam