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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")
• 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.
  • bjorn@webmail.co.za
  • s_bjorn@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: Thirdquarterpromotions@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2005 18:59:24 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS"You have Won"

FROM DESK OF: PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
DEAR WINNER,
REF: SSG/05/93325/ZT
BATCH: RSA/221
RE/ AWARD NOTIFICATION; FINAL NOTICE

We are pleased to inform you that you have emerged one of the Seventeen (17) winners of our Golden Jubilee International awareness Lottery Program which was drawn on the 5th of October, 2005. Your email/company, attached to compu-ticket play coupon No.531-1803-9713-4141, with serial number 5-66-308 drew the lucky numbers: 18-24-31-36-43-14 Bonus (46), and consequently won the lottery. You have therefore been approved for the lump sum pay out of $5,300,000.00 Five Million Three Hundred Thousand dollars); in cash Credited, to file REF: SSG/05/93325/ZT.

This is from total prize money of $ 64,700,000.00 shared among the seventeen
International winners in this category. Participants were selected through
A referral program and winners were automatically selected by Computer Ballot
System (CBS), drawn from 45,000 global names from Australia, New Zealand,
America, Asia, Europe, Africa and North America as part our International
Promotions Program, which is conducted quarterly. Selection was based on
Individuals all over the world, who do register on the Internet daily. This
draw automatically qualifies you for our "New Year" International Grand draw
Of 2 Billion Euro that will take place by the second quarter of 2005
(more info from our promotions office).

Your fund is now available for claim. For due processing and remittance
Of your prize money, to your chosen account or preferred payment method,
Please Contact the CLAIMS DEPARTMENT:
CONTACT: MR SISBOSISO BJORN
(Operations Manager)
TEL: 27 83867354
EMAIL: s-bjorn@webmail.co.za,s_bjorn@hotmail.com

Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform your claims agent as soon as possible. It is important to provide the following
Information clearly, to avoid any delays in processing your cash award.


1. Your full names
2. Your full home / office address
3. Direct telephone/fax numbers
4. Occupation / age
5. Next of kin
6. Amount won
7. Lottery date

NB: All claims must be submitted to the claims department not later than two weeks of this notification, otherwise will be automatically disqualified and Prize returned to (SSP) Charity Trust Account as unclaimed. For security reasons, winners are advised to keep their winning Information private and secured 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 measures to avoid double claims and unwarranted abuse of this program. Any breach of this policy will result in automatic disqualification of prize claim.

We hope with a part of your prize, you will participate in our Second Quarter high stakes EURO 2 Billion International Lottery. Congratulations!! Once again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our promotional programs.

Sincerely,


MRS FRANCESCA EDWARDS
Executive Director (Promotions)
SWINGRICHES NATIONAL LOTTERY PROMOTIONS

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam