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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:
  • "claim 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 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.
  • nationagency@gawab.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Julie Cruz" <interprom@sify.com>
Date: Sat, 27 Jan 2007 22:10:49 +0000
Subject: PRIZE AWARD


FROM: INTERACTIVE WORLDCUP LOTTERY
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
REF: TL/0534/30/05
BATCH: 75/011/INL
http://search.fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/bin/search/06/en/all?p=2010

Dear Winner,

Following official publication of results of the E-mail electronic online Sweepstakes organized by the Interactive World Cup lottery corporation, the Slide circuit award and the Heineken prizes in conjunction with the foundation for the promotion of software products, (F.P.S.), held on the 22nd of January 2007, in South Africa, wherein your electronic email address emerged as one of the online winning emails in the 1st category and therefore attracted a cash Award of US$1,000,000.00 (One million dollars only), we write to officially notify you of this award and to advise you to contact the processing office immediately upon receipt of this message for more information concerning the verification, processing and eventual payment of the above prize to you.
It is important to note that your award information was released on the 24th of January 2007 with the following particulars attached to it.

(I) Award numbers: TL 22/15409
(ii) Email ticket number: TL754/22/76
(iii) BATCH NUMBER: 75/011/INL
(iv) The file REFERENCE NUMBER: TL/0534/30/05
(v) Your Full Name & Telephone Number

Please contact the claim agents within 20 working days to facilitate the release of your prize; you are required to mention
the above particulars of your award in every correspondence addressed to the processing agents.

FOREIGN TRANSFER MANAGER
MR. FRANK DAVIES.
INTERACTIVE WORLD CUP LOTTERY SECURITY DEPARTMENT.

FAX: + 27-866-909897
Email: nationagency@gawab.com

The Interactive World Cup Lottery Awards is sponsored by a consortium of software promotion companies.
The Intel Group, Toshiba, Dell Computers, Microsoft and other international companies.
The Interactive World Cup Lottery internet draw is held periodically and is so organized to encourage the use of the
internet and promote computer literacy worldwide.

We are proud to say that over 20 Million Dollars are won annually in more than 150 countries worldwide. Remember, all
winning must be claimed as soon as possible to avoid delay.
Please note, in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, remember to quote your reference number and batch number in all correspondence.

Once again on behalf of all our staff,

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Julie Cruz
Promotions Coordinator

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam