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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:
  • "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• 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!

Fraud email example:

From: "victorcliamagent" <victorcliamagent@myway.com>
Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2007 00:50:37 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: YAHOO!!! MAIL CONGRATULATES YOU!!!!


Dear Alarica SchaefsteinI am happy to inform you that your claim has been approved as I have just checked my systerm to see that your claim has been duely approved; you are now qualified to redeem your prize.I have been instructed to inform you that you can either collect your prize in person that is you can come to (South Africa) or UK(London) or Dubai and visit our Issuing Bank or it can be sent to your Bank Account through key telegraphic transfer (KTT)which will reach your account within 72 hrs from the date of transfer but for this you Will need a clearance from the South African Ministry of Finance (EXCHANGE CONTROL DEPT.)as you will be recieving your fees in a foriegn currency, and AFFIDAVIT which will show that you don’t have any bad record whatsoever inSouth Africa or in your country this can be obtained by swearing an affidavit on your name at the high court here which will be used to obtain the Clearance certificate and your Lottery winning certificate which is
needed and the only documents needed for your transfer to be effected. Since you have been allocated to me to assist you, it is my duty to make sure that you receive this claim because if you don’t redeem it before the stipulated date of redemption it will be declared null and void and this money will be sent to charity.So if you have to come in person you have to prepare and make sure you are here in South Africa before the stipulated redemption date,but if you want me as your claim agent to swear the affidavit on your name to get the clearance you will have to pay for the fees to swear the affidavit which will be used to obtain the clearance needed to facilitate the transfer of your claim, this is what I did for other prize winners who was not able to come down to South Africa,or London or Dubai, and do send your bank detail.Your Bank Account DetailsBank Name........................................Account Holder's Name..............................................Account
Number.....................................................Bank AddressTHANKSDR VICTOR DAVID

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam