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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:
  • "claims office" (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!

Fraud email example:

From: "Walter Fly" <fifa_agent@gala.net>
Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2007 22:43:13 +0200
Subject: Re: Very Urgent!!


Attn: Mr.Orlin Hochmann,



Thanks for your email however i want you to understand that you are a very
lucky winner of this program kindly act according to my instruction for
earnest transfer of your winning funds into your nominated banking account
on time, however you are a blessed man good things are coming your ways this
is what I want you to understand and believe.



Attached is your winning certificate for your confirmation and understanding
that your winnings has been approved in your names as indicate in your email
ballot, congratulations once more you are a lucky winner God Almighty has
blessed you in life.



I await hearing from you on how we are to move on for a successful
transaction with the bank payment officer (Mr. Cliff Hill) NedBank manager
Johannesburg. Regards the EU law all has been taken care of my the lottery
board authority



Mr. Van Walter Fly

Claims Officer.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam