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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "hundred thousand united states 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)
• 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.
  • +27839643540 (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.
  • to_moyo2006@yahoo.co.uk
  • tomoyo2006@homemail.co.za

Fraud email example:

From: sarah_lopez_pool@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 04 Jan 2006 04:50:32 -0800
Subject: Congratulations

324 High Court Street,
Sandton, Johannesburg,
South Africa.
Customer Service: 580 NCA 85914
Ref: EAASL/941OYI/05
Batch: 12/25/DC34

CONGRATULATIONS: WINNING NOTIFICATION

Dear Participant,

We happily announce to you the draw of the Euro-Afro-
American Sweepstake Lottery International programs held on
the 24th December 2005 in Johannesburg in support of the
2010 world Cup hosting in South Africa. Your e-mail address
attached to ticket number: B9564 75604545 188 with! Serial
number 97560 drew the winning: 01/10/11/18/19/46, which
subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category. You
have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of
US$1,200,000.00 (One Million, Two Hundred Thousand United
States Dollars Only) in cash credited to file
KPC/9080118308/05 and a free ticket to watch the incoming
World Cup tournament in South Africa 2010, including free
hotel accommodation for two weeks / feeding. This is from a
total cash prize
of US$120,000,000,00 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 as indicated in your
play coupon. In view of this, your US$US$1,200,000.00 {One
Million, Two Hundred Thousand United States dollar Only)
would be released to you. 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 30,000,00
companies. 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. To file for your claim, please
contact our corresponding agent in South Africa immediately
you read this message for quick and urgent release of your
fund, contact information is as follow: -

Mr. Tobi Moyo
E-mail: to_moyo2006@yahoo.co.uk
tomoyo2006@homemail.co.za

Direct Line: + 27 83 964 3540

Please be informed that all winning must be claimed on or
before 31st January
2006. To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please
quote your
reference/batch numbers in any correspondences with our
designated agents or
us.

Congratulations once more from all members and staffs of
this program
that has successfully won this competition. Thank you for
being part of our
promotional lottery program. As soon as you are in contact
with our agent, please keep us informed. He will instruct
and guide you on how to receive your wining funds.

Thank you for your Co-operation.

Mrs Sarah Lopez.
South African Zonal Co-coordinator.
(National Lottery, South African Zonal Secretariate)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam