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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• 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!
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • zumaattorney@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: swisslottrey@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2005 12:00:34 +0200
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION

Bienvenue à SWISS LOTTO via Internet :
Dotation estimée pour les 6 bons numéros de mercredi:
Ref. Number: 133/756/4509
Batch Number: 538901527-Bc68
Joker Ticket Numbers

Dear Sir/Madam

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Winner in our International Lottery Program held on the 12th of October, 2005. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number 521194 with serial number 3772-556 drew lucky numbers 7-14-18-31-45 which consequently won in the Joker category, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of ONE MILLION DOLLARS. ($1.000,000.00)
CONGRATULATIONS!



Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your winning information confidential until your claims have been fully processed and your money Remitted to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid multiple claims and unwarranted abuse of this program . All People were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over 20,000 company and 30,000,000

individual email addresses and names from all over the world. This promotional program takes place every five years.

This lottery was promoted and sponsored by a conglomerate of some multinational companies in south africa as part of their social responsibility to the citizens in the communities where they have operational base. We hope with part of your winnings you will take part in our next year Ten million Dollars international lottery. To file for your claim, please contact our financial agent.
BARRISTER SAM ZUMA

and the Agents

Reply Email : zumaattorney@yahoo.com




Remember all winning must be claimed not later than 15th of NOVEMBER 2005. After this date all unclaimed funds will be included in the next stake. Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all correspondence.

Furthermore should there be any change of address do inform our agent as soon as possible. Congratulations once more from our members of staff and thank you for being part of our promotional program.
Note: Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.

Yours Sincerely,

Mrs. PAUL KRUGER

International Lottery (co-ordinator)
N.B: Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will result to

disqualification. Please do not reply to this mail.

Contact your claims agent.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam