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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!
  
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• 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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claims agent" (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!
• 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.
  • +27833343232 (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.
  • mcdonalddave@workmail.co.za
  • info@workmail.co.za

Fraud email example:

From: awardnotification@workmail.co.za
Date: Tue, 03 Jan 2006 18:16:00 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATION!!!

FROM: THE DESK OF THE WORLDNET INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY
PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT, REF: WNL/201250028/05
BATCH: 50/00308/WLD/ZA


RE/ AWARD NOTIFICATION; FINAL NOTICE

Attn: Winner

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement on 15th of
December 2005, of winners of the WORLD INTERNET PROMO
LOTTERY, THE NETHERLANDS INTERNATIONAL, PROGRAMS held on
4th November 2005. Your coupons attached to ticket number
011-0148-701-259, with serial number 973-24 drew the lucky
numbers 55-1-44-82-10-25, and consequently you won the
lottery in the 2nd category. You have therefore been
approved for a lump sum pay of US$2,500.000.00 in cash
credited to file REF NO.WNL/2010250028/05.


This is from total prize money of US$20,000,000.00 shared
among the twenty international winners in their different
categories. All participants were selected through a
computer ballot system; you won this lottery because your
email was subscribed to online.


Some names were selected via the net and lottery was played
on their behalf to mark world Internet day. This is part of
the program to promote Internet in the world. It is in
conjunction with the World Wide Web providers and
other assisting bodies. Such as, v-sat, pinnacle
international and link server. The names were selected from
200,000 names from Australia, New Zealand, America, Europe,
North America, Asia and Africa as part of
International promotions Program, which is conducted
annually.


CONGRATULATIONS! Your fund is now deposited with a Security
company insured in your name. Due to the mix up of some
numbers and names, we ask that you keep this award strictly
from public notice until your claim has been
processed and your money remitted into your account. This
is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming
or unscrupulous acts by participants of this program.


To begin your claim immediately, contact your claim agent
Mr. McDonald Dave on this number Tel: +27 83 334 3232 Fax:
+27 11 219 7039 e-mail: mcdonalddave@workmail.co.za for due
processing and remittance of your prize money into your
designated bank account of your choice, please provide him
your phone and fax number. Remember, all prize money must
be claimed not later than end of 30th January 2006. After
this date, all funds will be
returned as unclaimed.


NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and
complications, please remember to quote your reference and
batch numbers as stated above in every one of your
correspondences with your agent. Furthermore, should there
be any change of your address, do inform your claims agent
as soon as possible.


Congratulations once again from all our staff and
managements of WorldNet lottery promotion worldwide.


Thanking you for being part of our promotions program.


Sincerely yours,


MRS FAITH ADAMS


Enquiry center: info@workmail.co.za

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam