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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:
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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash)
• 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.
  • +27781679601 (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.
  • grand_universalclaimagent@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "richard benson" <grand_universal55@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 10 May 2006 12:28:05 +0000
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!

GRAND UNIVERSAL  FORTUNE LOTTERY   

 

SECOND QUATER OF  THE YEAR 2006

 

Attn:Sir/Madam,

YOU ARE THE WINNER OF THE

COMPUTER PROMOTIONAL DRAW

 

THIS MESSAGE IS FROM THE PROMOTION MANAGER,

INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT

 

GRAND UNIVERSAL SA

 

YOU HAVE WON ON THE COMPUTER BALLOT,

THE SUM OF US$800,000,00

 

PLEASE CONTACT

  (DR.ROGER GLOVER)

YOUR CLAIM AGENT.

 

FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE PAYMENT

 email:grand_universalclaimagent@yahoo.com

PHONE NO.+27-7816 79601

 

(GRAND UNIVERSAL LOTTERY SA)

 

PRIZE AWARD NOTIFICATION

 

Participants of this drew were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 2,500,000 email addresses of individuals and companies from all part of the world as part of our electronic business

Promotions Program.

 

Note that your email address qualified for the draw, as a result of your visiting various websites we are running the e-business promotions.

 

Your  email address, attached to ticket number 100-309-7482, with serial number 513-10 drew the lucky numbers 3, 8, 13, 22, 27, 41 and Bonus number 12  which was conducted on 8th  May 2006 and consequently YOU HAVE won in the Second Category.

Your winning Ticket is Number. 343-221-8756
Your Serial Number. 454-17
Your lucky draw Numbers are. 3, 8, 13, 22, 27, 41 Bonus Number 12
Your INSURANCE Number: FLS433/453L/GMSA

 

Please be informed that your CHEQUE of the sum of US$800,000.00 is deposited  with the ABSA BANK in South Africa which was also insured with your email address which won you this prize,

 

Therefore you should contact our claim office/agent  and give them your full name so that they will re-insure your CHEQUE under your full name.

 

To begin your claim, please call/send email to  our claim agent immediately with the above phone/email address and inform him about your winning.

 

NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers and other information provided above and below in every one of your correspondences to our claims agent,And be informed that failure to claim your winning on or before 26th May 2006,your ticket will be considered invalid.

 

REF. NUMBER: GML-S343-KKT-8811

BATCH NUMBER: 56T-DTH78-SAR99

 

GRAND UNIVERSAL FORTUNE LOTTO PROGRAM IS A BONUS FOR THE WHOLE

WORLD FOR THE 2010 SOCCER WORLD

Congratulations'' once again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our promotions program.

Sincerely,

 

MR.RICHARD BENSON

THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
GRAND UNIVERSAL LOTTERY SA
2nd Floor SABC
Radio Park Building
Auckland Park, 2006 Henley Road.
Johannesburg, South Africa.

 

GRAND UNIVERSAL LOTTERY SA

 

GOES INTERNATIONAL

AS THE 2010

WORLD CUP

WILL BE HOSTED BY

SOUTH AFRICA

THIS PROGRAM IS SPONSURED BY: SOUTH AFRICAN LOTTO AUTHORITY. AND SUPPORTED BY: (F餩ration Internationale de Football Association) FIFA SUPPORT

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam