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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• 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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "lottery winners international e-mail programs"
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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.
  • +27765692181 (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.
  • reefmulti@mail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Reefmultiaid@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 17 Sep 2006 20:34:18 -0800
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS (WINER OF PROMOTIONS)

FROM DESK OF: PROMOTIONS MANAGER.
DEAR WINNER,
REFERENCE: RCA/1408/7FT/2006
BATCH: SDC/SA/026
RE/ AWARD NOTIFICATION;
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Euro millions Lottery Winners International E-mail programs held on the 14th of August, 2006. Your E-mail address attached to ticket number:31210 with serial main number:Pl88812, drew lucky star numbers:112390 ,which consequently won in the 2nd category, You have therefore been approved for the lump sum pay out of € 1, 300,000.00 Euros (One Million Three Hundred Thousand Euros); in cash credited, to file REF: RCA/1408/7FT/2006
Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your winning information confidential until your claim has been processed and your money remitted to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants. All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over 100,000 company and 50,000,000 individual email addresses and names from all over the world.
This lottery was promoted and sponsored by Bill Gates, President of Microsoft, the world's largest software company in order to enhance and promote the use of Internet Explorer, Users of Microsoft-wares around the globe. This promotional program takes place every three years. We hope with part of your winning you will take part in our end of year 50 million Euro International lottery.
Your fund is now available for claim. For due processing and remittance of your prize money, to your chosen account or preferred payment method, please contact the CLAIMS DEPARTMENT;
CONTACT: MR. Radebe Martin (Operations Manager)
TEL: +27 765692181
EMAIL: Reefmulti@mail.com
Reef Multi Aid Promotions
Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform your claims agent as soon as possible. It is important to provide the following information clearly, to avoid any delays in processing your cash award.
Full Name
Ref
Batch
Email
Country of Origin
NB: All claims must be submitted to the claims department not later than two weeks of this notification, otherwise will be automatically disqualified and Prize returned to REEF MULTI AID COUNCIL'S Trust Account as unclaimed. For security reasons, winners are advised to keep their
winning information private and secured till your claims is processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize. This is part of our precautionary measures to avoid double claims and unwarranted abuse of this program. Any breach of this policy will result in automatic disqualification of prize claim.
We hope with a part of your prize, you will participate in our New Year high stakes EURO 2 Billion International Lottery.
Congratulations!! Once again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our promotional programs.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Rose Smith
Group Executive Director)
REEF MULTI AID PROMOTIONS

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam