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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:
  • "million united states dollars" (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)
  • "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
  • "barr." (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!
• 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.
  • +27730007299 (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.
  • blessingmoyochambers@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: omegalottery_2010@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 02 Jan 2006 04:54:18 -0800
Subject: NOTIFICATION

Mrs. Teresa Allan
Customer Service: 480 NCA1068
Ref: ZAWC/2010/WWW/04
Batch: 14/8052/DC04

Attention 4th Category,

LOTTERY WINNING NOTIFICATION

We happily announce to you the draw of the South African National Omega Lottery
Promotion Programs held on the 2nd of January 2006. in Zurich, Switzerland. Your
e-mail address attached to ticket number: B75904546220 with Serial number: 60124
drew the winning: 04/07/24/25/40/42 which subsequently won you the lottery in the
4th category.

You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of USD$2,200,000.00
(Two Million, Two Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) in cash credited to file
ZA/621825/04.This is from a total cash prize of USD$220,000,000(Two hundred and
Twenty Million United States Dollars) shared amongst the first 100(One Hundred)
lucky winners in this category world-wide.

Please note that your lucky winning numbers falls within our Afro booklet
representative office in Southern Africa as indicated in your play coupon. In view
of this, your winnings of US$2,200,000.00(Two Million, Two Hundred Thousand United
States Dollars) will be remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim
your prize. Our corresponding office/agent in Southern Africa will facilitate the
release of your funds as soon as you contact them.

All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn and
extracted from over 100,000 e-mail ID of individuals and companies on the world
wide web sites to promote South Africa & 2010 World Cup Award. For security reasons,
you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims is
processed and your money remitted to you.

This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted
abuse of this program by some unscrupulous people. PLEASE BE WARNED.To file for your
claim, please contact our Snr. Claims Manager.

Name Barr. Blessing Moyo.
Phone Number:+27 73 000 7299.
email:blessingmoyochambers@yahoo.com

Contact our Snr. Claims Manager immediately you read this message for quick and
urgent release of your winnings.

Please be informed that all winning must be claimed on or before 2nd of Febuary
2006. Always quote your reference/batch numbers in any correspondences with our
designated office/agents or us.

Congratulations!
Mrs Teresa Allan.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam