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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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• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• 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.
  • +27836669208 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "alexander cliff" <alexander_cliff029@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 23 Sep 2006 16:33:24 +0200
Subject: Your Information/Application has been forwarded to the bank.

Dear: Shanghai,

 
This is to confirm to you that i have received your mail indicating your personal details for me to write a letter of claim on your behalf to the First National Bank(FNB) Bank Of South Africa for the release of your winning fund. 

I will therefore ask you to provide with me the bank account details as follows:

1. Bank Name:.........................................
2. Bank Address:........................................
3. Country of the bank:................................
4. Tel/Fax No of the bank:...................................
5. Branch number or code of the bank:................
6. Swift number or code of the bank:.................. (Optional)
7. Account Holder's Name:................................
8. Account Number:..............................

Kindly therefore provide with me the above information to enable me conclude with the bank, so that the transfer will commence without further delay.

TO BEGIN YOUR CLAIM AND TO AVOID FRAUDULENT PRATICES FROM ANY MEMBER OF THE SOCIETY WHO ARE NOT THE RIGHTFUL WINNERS, WE REQUIRE YOU TO FURNISH US WITH YOUR DETAILS FOR REFERENCE PURPOSES:

1.YOUR FULL NAMES, ADDRESS AND BANK DETAILS.
2.YOUR CURRENT FAX NUMBERS AND PRIVATE PHONE NUMBERS.
3.YOU SHOULD FAX THE FIRST AND SECOND PAGES OF YOUR INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT, OR IDENTIFICATION BOOKLET/DRIVING LISCENCE IF ANY.
4.REFERENCE AND BATCH NUMBERS AS IN THE MAIL SENT TO YOU BY SOUTH AFRICAN-SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY, FOR VERIFICATION AND AUTHENTICITY PURPOSES BEFORE PAYMENT IS EFFECTED TO YOUR NOMINATED ACCOUNT BY THIS NOBLE ORGANIZATION.

NOTE THAT, YOU ARE EXPECTED AND REQUESTED TO FILL OUR FORMS AND SEND IT BACK WITHOUT DELAY TO ENABLE US MEET WITH OUR OBLIGATIONS OF PROCESSING AND TRANSFERRING YOUR FUND TO YOUR ACCOUNT.

NOTE: You are expected to contact through this mail or call the telephone numbers ++27 836 669 208 for more oral clarification.

Your letter of claim have been submitted to the bank and they will be contacting you as soon as the foreign remittance department of the FNB Bank approves the application. Expect a contact from them any time.
 
I therefore, advise you to co-operate with their instruction and if you require me for any assistance you can contact me back any time.
 
Wishing Good Luck and once again Congratulations.
 
Thanks,
 
Yours in service,
 
Cliff Alexander.
+27 836 669 208

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam