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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.

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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)
  • "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.
  • +27739335582 (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.
  • mrrendanivusi@hotmail.com
  • rendanivusi2006@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: theauthenticlotteryoffice@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 16 Jun 2006 09:19:20 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!YOU WIN LOTTERY CONTACT YOUR CLAIM AGENT BEFORE 7DAYS

THE AUTHENTIC LOTTERY OFFICE
NorthRiding Avenue No_78
Email:theauthenticlottery@belizemail.net or
authenticlotteryoffice@belizemail.net
Tel:011 6712 987 442{ext8}
South Africa Johannesburg.
Dear Sir/Madam,

We are glad to inform you that you have been selected for a cash prize
of $2000,000.00 (Two Million, United : State Dollar)in South Africa
Rand Twelve Million Nine Hundred And Fifty Thousand Rand.
This is in line with our promotional lottery for our products. We
specialize in the sales
of cd-roms that enhance your business growth.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 approved by the
South Africa Gaming Board also Licensed by the South Africa Association
of Gaming Regulators (ISAGR).Sponsored by Internationale De Football
Association as South Africa earn the opportunity to host 2010 World
Cup.This promotional lottery is the first of its kind and we intend to
sensitize the public.
To begin the processing of your prize you are to
contact your claims agent through our accredited Prize Transfer agents
as
stated below:

Mr Rendani Vusi
Randburg Lodge Street ,
No_55.
South Africa Johannesburg.
Tel:+27 73 933 5582

Email: mrrendanivusi@hotmail.com Or rendanivusi2006@hotmail.com
Alternative Email: mrrendani@belizemail.net
As you contact your claim agent, please do sent to him your secret pin
code Kxa9v2005 and your reference number BWBI:35431656003/72. You are
also advised to provide to him with the under listed information as soon
as possible:
A. Name in full
B. Address
C. Nationality
D. Age
E. Occupation
F. Phone/Fax

If you do not contact your claims agent on or before 7 working days of
this notification, your winnings 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!

Regards

Ms RosePhila Kweni
Lottery Manager

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam