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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!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• 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:

• 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!

Fraud email example:

From: "CLAIM DEPARTMENT" <claimoffice@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2006 15:20:38 +0000
Subject: PAYMENT PROCEDURE

From: Edward Ebi

Sir/Madam


Permit me to introduce myself as Mr.Edward Ebi, A legal practitioner and
the authorized agent of the Lottery Company.

After going through our files here i want to inform you that your email
address tallies with the one we have here in our system, which is to say you
have really won. Please do forward to us urgent your details as follows.


(1)YOUR TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS

(2)A COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION

(3)YOUR FULL RESIDENTIAL AND OFFICE ADDRESS


Once we receive the above details, we will forward them to the
accredited paying bank and the bank will contact you and inform you on the
modalities for the smooth transfer of your winning money.To avoid double
claim,you are advised to strictly keep your winning information to yourself.

Finally, you are required to claim your prize before the closing date of
this lottery payment, hence failure to do so, your winning prize will be
reclaimed and relocated and this office shall not be held
responsible.

Regards,

Edward Ebi

_________________________________________________________________
Fast. Simple. Personal. Visit the all-new MSN South Africa.
http://za.msn.com/


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam