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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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• 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:
  • "deadline" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "cheque " (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)
• 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!

Fraud email example:

From: "s.os insurance and other services" <s.os_insurance@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 08 May 2006 09:41:08 +0200
Subject: S.O INSURANCE AND OTHER SERVICES (PTY) LTD (PRIZE CLAIM FORM)



08/05/2006

We are in receipt of your claims file, with reference
Number REFERENCE NO: FLS-ZR39-825P-4 and BATCH NO:
74-263-BBN.Be informed that we have in our possession
your file for your payment for the sum of US$2,950,000.00
to you.
You will be required to fill a "PRIZE CLAIM FORM"
with all necessary details. Kindly fill, and send back
the attached form by email as attachment
A certificate of prize claims along side other vital
documents will be sent to you.

Please note that the cheque made out in your
name will be handed over to you right here at our Head
office in
Johannesburg, South Africa. In view of the above, you will
be required to come down to South Africa immediately to
sign your payment file then receive your prize.

Our office also gives you the opportunity to appoint a
legal representative (Attorney) here in South Africa in a
situation that you would not be able to come.
In this case, you will have to furnish the attorney with
the following,

1. Your claim number
2. A copy of your passport or drivers license.
3. A letter showing that you are empowering the lawyer to
represent you.

The letter will be presented by the attorney
when representing you will have to be endorse by the
commissioner of Oaths at the high court of South Africa
before it will be honored. As soon as the lawyer files in
the above documents with our office and sign your claim
file, your prize will be released immediately.

The reason for this is to avoid paying out fund to people
claiming to have won when it is not true. Take note that
this cheque will only be handed over to you or a lawyer
that
will be representing you.

Please notify us when you wish to come forward for your
cheque, let us know if you wish to appoint a lawyer to
represent you then our office can refer you to one of the
government accreditted Attorney here in Johannesburg South
Africa.

Remember that we are strict with our deadline

Congratulations once more.

Regards,

Dr Hope Mendu
Foreign Services Manager
S.O Insurance And
Other Services (Pty) Ltd.

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam