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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
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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +27839551248 (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.
  • dr.larsongilbertzuma@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "lynder williams" <lyndawilliams01@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 04 Jul 2006 08:00:25 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATION YOU HAVE WON!!!

FROM THE DESK OF PROMOTIONAL CO-ORDINATOR                                              From: Mrs. Lynda Williams Megasoft E-Sweepstake Internet Promotion Award Headquarters: 1a, Bexon Court Carlton Nottingham shire Nottingham NG4 1SQ Essex United Kingdom Customer Service: 580 NCA 85914 Ref: EAASL/941OYI/05 Batch: 12/27/Du34   Dear Winner,   CONGRATULATIONS !!! YOU HAVE WON THE SUM OF US$930.000.OO ================================================ We happily announce to you the draw of the Megasoft Internet Sweepstake Promotional Lottery International held in the month of June 2006 in Essex - United Kingdom. Your e-mail address has been attached to ticket number: B956475604545 188 with Serial number 97560 drew the winning: 01/03/22/32/38/44/, which you subsequently won the lottery in the 2nd category.   You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of US$930,000.00 (Nine Hundred and Thirty Thousand US Dollars - ONLY) credited to file KPC/9080118308/02.  Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our Afro booklet representative office in South Africa as indicated in your  coupon. In view of this, your US$930,000.00 (Nine Hundred and Thirty Thousand US Dollars - ONLY) would be released to you by any of our offshore payment banks via you preferred mode of payment.   Your accredited zonal agent will immediately commence processing the release of your prize as soon as you contact him/her. All partispants e-mail addresses were selected "randomly" from World Wide Web site (Macrosoft Powered) through computer E-computer ballot system and extracted from over 120,000,000,00 companies, Governement agencies, charity homes, co -operate bodies and individuals email addresses. This promotion takes place annually and for security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claim is processed and your money remitted to you. This is part of our precautionary measures to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by the unscrupulous persons. Be informed that  this  promotion aimed at internet globalization before the year 2010, thereby empowering internet literacy against monopoly . To file for your claim, contact your allocated zonal agency in South Africa immediately you read this message via telephone or fax or email address below: ================================================ Give him your personal infornation and the winning numbers such as: Your name in full, age, marrital status male or female. Your country of origin and of residence. Your current address and Phone and Fax Numbers. Your ticket number: B956475604545 188 Your Serial number : 97560 Your winning:        01/03/22/32/38/44/ The winning amount : US$930,000.00 Your file number : KPC/9080118308/02. ============================================ NAME : Dr. Larson Gilbert Zuma  - Accredited Agency  -  RSA Office Address: #2 Tudor Avenue - Loft Estate - Sunning Hill Johannesburg, 2191 - South Africa.                           24hrs Hotline number: +27 83 955 1248 E-mail:   dr.larsongilbertzuma@yahoo.co.uk   =============================================  To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please quote your reference/batch numbers in any correspondences with your accredited agent.   CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN.   Your Sincerely, Mrs. Lynda  Williams. United Kingdom Online - Statutory Co-ordinator: Sir. Steve Ballmer: CEO. Megasoft sweepstake Corporation             Congratulations from the Staffs & Members of the Megasoft Sweepstake Conglomerate of the  International  Lottery Board Commission                                                                                                                  Mrs. Lynda Williams          Dr. Peter W. Alexandra                   Sir. Steve Ballmer (UK Online C. Sec.)             (Zonal C. RSA)                           (CEO  Megasoft Corp.)                                                                                                                        All rights reserved. Terms of Service - Guidelines          100860 8556 2548 9576ZA

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam