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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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)
  • "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)
• 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.
  • +27782570853 (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.
  • hugas@winning.com

Fraud email example:

From: essresult@winning.com
Date: Fri, 02 Jun 2006 06:47:55 -0800
Subject: RE: YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO CLAIM US$1,000,000.00

CONGRATULATIONS!

The Game Is Coming... 2010 is the Time!
YOU ARE AMONG OUR 10 LATEST MILLIONAIRES!
SOUTH AFRICA 2010 WORLDCUP BID COMMITTEE
IN CONJUNCTION WITH
FEDERATION INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
[FIFA]
... Our Latest Surprises!

=> LATEST RESULT OF THE ESS PROMOTION <=


Dear Sir/Madam,
This is to inform you that you have been selected for a cash prize of One Million United States Dollars [$1,000,000.00 ]. This is in line with our promotional lottery for the world-cup come 2010. The selection process was carried out through random selection in our computerized email selection system(ess) from a database of over 250,000 email addresses drawn from all the continents of the world. This Lottery is sponsored by the Federation International Football Association [FIFA], and approved by the British Gaming Board and also Licensed by the International Association of Gaming Regulators (I AGR). This promotional lottery is the first of its kind and we intend to sensitize the public.

To begin the processing of your prize and to find out more about this promotional lottery, you are to contact our claims/verification department stated below:

Zodiac House Promotion, Johannesburg Office, P.O. Box 1820
Auckland Park, Johannesburg, South Africa
Attention: Mr. John Hugas
Mobile: + 27 78 257 0853
Fax: + 27 [11] 219 7120
E-mail: hugas@winning.com
cc: hugas@blida.info


When you contact the department, please provide them with your secret pin code x7pwyz2006 and your reference number BWBI:2551256003/23. You are also advised to provide them with the under listed information as soon as possible:

1. Name in full
2. Address
3. Nationality
4. Age
5. Occupation
6. Phone/Fax

If you do not contact the claims department within 12 working days of this notification, your winning would be revoked. Winners are advised to keep their winning details/information from the public to avoid fraudulent claim (IMPORTANT) pending the transfer/claim by Winner.
Accept my hearty congratulations once again!


Office of the Promotion Manager
Mr. Stevenson Votz

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam