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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:
  • "00,000.00" (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.
  • eaglefinanceorg001@webmail.co.za

Fraud email example:

From: "0034662238028 Nksoi" <paulnkosi@peru.com>
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2008 09:47:16 -0700
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN, METROPOLITAN LOTTERY ORGANIZATION SA.


Sir/Madam,



I Mr. Paul Nkosi, Control Lottery department Manager of Metropolitan
Lottery Organization in South Africa, I am here writing this mail to
notify you that Metropolitan Lottery SA Announce today, 4th June 2008
that you are one of the lucky winners of the Metropolitan Promotion
SA.

Your email address emerged as one of our winners of $500,000.00 in the
Category"A", Draws held on May 30th, 2008.



Our Email promotional draws from 21,000 E-addresses of
individuals/companies computer Ballot allover the world. Attached with
Ref NO:Eagle-PF23-711W-9,Batch No: 46-184-WAN with serial NO:215-18
drew the lucky numbers 06,13,26,33,43,46.



This won the 2008 draw of your winnings is to be claimed from our
paying Bank.(EAGLE FINANCE LIMITED)



Contact Person: Mr. Douglas Magoro.

Foreign Operation Department.

EAGLE FINANCE LIMITED.

Email: eaglefinanceorg001@webmail.co.za
<http://mail.webmail.co.za/src/compose.php?send_to=eaglefinanceorg001%40webmail.co.za>



CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN, METROPOLITAN LOTTERY ORGANIZATION SA.



Yours sincerely,

Mr.Paul Nkosi

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam