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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "million british pounds" (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)
• 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.
  • @gawab.com

Fraud email example:

From: "CLAIMOFFICE" <claimoffice100@gawab.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2007 05:01:03 GMT
Subject: ONCE AGAIN CONGRATULATIONS



Attn: Pepin Nagel.

Dear Winner!!

According to information from our central computer system here in
Johannesburg, South Africa, you are a confirmed winner of the Microsoft
Corp Lottery under the Afro Booklet of Africa.

Thereby, you are advised to fly down to Johannesburg, South Africa
immediately to sign and obtain copies of your Authority to Claim
Certificate, including your award wining certificate, this two important
certificates must be obtained from the World Lottery Board here in south
Africa since your lucky wining falls under the Afro Booklet of Africa and
forwarded to our paying bank (The Royal Bank of Scotland London) as
Evidence of your lucky wining for the Remittance of your wining fund (Two
Million British Pounds Sterling) into your overseas Nominated Bank account
of your Choice.

Thereby, you cannot fly down to South Africa as requested; this office will
assist you to sign and obtain these two important certificates in any Legal
terms and condition as your accredited agent (Legal Practitioner) here in
Johannesburg South Africa.

Our paying bank (The Royal Bank of Scotland London) cannot commence with
the Remittance Process of your wining fund without receiving your Authority
to Claim Certificate and Award Wining Certificates in your name as Evidence
of Your Lucky wining.

Please Confirm the possible procedure to claim your wining fund in your
next mail to enable this office proceed for your prize claim.

Have a nice Day,

Mr. Mark Anderson
(Claim Manager)
Tel: 0027 73 227 2785.
Fax: 0027 86 630 8580.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam