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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:
  • "transfer of your funds" (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)
  • "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!

Fraud email example:

From: Star World Lotteries <star_world_lotteries@yahoo.co.in>
Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 11:11:43 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Congratulations.


Star World Lotteries,
Corporate Headquarters: Maliebaan 38-40, 3581CR,
Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Dear VICTIMNAME ,


With utmost joy, we are pleased to inform you of the result of the Star World Lotteries programs, held on the 27th of April 2006, which drew a cash prize of $950,000.00. Your e-mail address attached to Ticket/Code number TK7561/0429076B with claim/reference number 2917-5598 drew these lucky numbers 0097-44746-041-764-64-2020, which consequently won in the 2nd ! category. You have been approved to receive a cash prize of $950,000.00 (Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand USD) only.


Be advised that due to incessant mix up in cash prize transfer to previous winners, we advise that you keep your winning information confidential until your claim has been processed and released to you. This security measure is critical; its a measure put in place to avoid double claims, transfer and unwarranted abuse of this program by other participants.


METHOD OF SELECTING WINNERS:

Participants were selected anonymously through a private ballot system (computer ballot) from over 20,000 companies and 700,000 individual e-mail addresses all over the world. At the final draw your e-mail address emerged as the winner of our last jackpot. This promotional program is promoted and sponsored by Orient software corporation (Orient Networks).


It is meant to reward some individuals and corporations who have devoted their time ! and resources surfing the World Wide Web (www) with their email addres ses. Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 7 working days from the day of Notification. After the expiration of that time frame, if your funds are unclaimed, it will be refunded to us and included in our next draws.


NOTE THAT WINNERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COURIER OF THEIR CHEQUE TO AVOID MUCH DELAY. Lastly, in order to avoid unnecessary delays/complications with the transfer of your funds to you, please always remember to quote your Code number in all correspondence with our paying agency(West African Monetary Institute, Accra, Ghana) Stating your full names and address, your telephone number, fax number if any, your occupation and your likely payment option .


Furthermore, should there be any change of your present address, please notify us immediately so to make the appropriate adjustment. You are to contact the fiduciary paying agency as mentioned below for the processing of your claims.


West African Monetary Agency

Contact person: Mr. Peters Wilfred.

Claims Processing/Legal Department





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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam