419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

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:
- ",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)
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 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.
- claimsdept200923@hotmail.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "South Africa 2010 e-mail lottery" <claimsdept200923@hotmail.co.uk>,
" <sacrafts@biznetvigator.com>"@obav01.netvigator.com
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:20:36 +0800
Subject: YOUR WINNING.......Reply To: claimsdept200923@hotmail.co.uk

SOUTH AFRICA WORLD CUP
LOTTERY 2010
DEAR WINNER ,

We are pleased to announce to you that you are one of the 10 lucky winners in the FreeLotto draw held on the 15th Oct 2009. All 10 winning addresses were randomly selected from a batch of 50,000,000 international emails..World cup Draw. Consequently,you have therefore been approved for a total payout of USD$ 500,000 [FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS) only. Your email address emerged along side 9 others as a category to winner in this year's Annual.

The world cup lottery 2010 is proudly sponsored by the Microsoft Corporation,Coca Cola,Nokia,MTN,the Intel Group, Toyota ,Toshiba, Dell computers, Mckintosh .And mostly by the South African Government.The world cup free lottery draw is held once a year.And is so organized to encourage the use of internet and computers including football.And also to advertise the South Africa 2010 World Cup world wide.We are proud to say that over US $9 Million are won annually in more than 150 countries world wide.

World cup 2010 South Africa . Consequently,you have therefore been approved for a total pay out of usd$500,000 [FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS only.The following particulars are attached to your lotto payment order:

(i) SAFANFA 1184204
(ii) S518BN
You are therefore advise to send the following information to the Cliams Agent to facilitate them and process the transfer of your fund.
1.Full name
2.Contact Address
3.Telephone Number
4. Marital Status
5.Occupation
6.Date of Birth
7.Country
8.cell phone

For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claim 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.Please be warned.

to file your claim,please contact our agent; MR.HARRY MASHAL
E-MAIL:claimsdept200923@hotmail.co.uk
CONGRATULATIONS!!!

DR.Butler Arch
Director SAFA
World cup 2010
South Africa

N:B,All response must be sent to this email claimsdept200923@hotmail.co.uk,Any reply sent to other email will not be attended to.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam