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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "fondazione di vittorio" (not involved with lotteries)
  • "vittorio foundation" (not involved with lotteries)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
  • "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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.
  • +2348022171336 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Mr Swank Jefferson <ecowas_swankjeff102@yahoo.it>
Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2007 14:11:58 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: MORE INFORMATION [UNITED NATIONS]



Fondazione Di Vittorio Universal Programme.
Piazza Garibaldi, 9 - 90093
Monopoli – ITALY.
http://www.fondazionedivittorio.it

AUGUST-3RD-2007.

Dear Harimann Frue.

This is to acknowledge the receipt of the requested data and the confirmation of your reliability in this universal programme , The Fondazione Di Vittorio organization was established in the year 1977 by the Multi-Million groups and its now widely supported by various organizations across the globe e.g. the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS), United Nations Organization (UNO) and the European Union (EU) , This Organizations was conceived with the objective of human growth, educational, and community development to celebrate the 28th anniversary program.

This year edition will give many people the opportunity to get their lives to a stage where they had always wanted, Also Note that all beneficiaries email addresses were selected randomly from over 100,000 internet websites , shop's cash invoice around your area in which you might have purchased something from, You were selected among the lucky recipients to receive the Grand sum of $500,000.00 USD United States Dollars (Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) as charity donations/aid from the Vittorio Foundation.

In furtherance, To proceed with the claims of your donation grants note that we have forwarded the produced data, to the head office of the Vittorio Foundation (ITALY) and the United Nations Organization (UNO) head office whom happens to be the Organization assigned to handle your payment in WEST AFRICA. Because your claims falls within our United Nations Organization Region, and you have been directed to contact the United Nations Organization Payment Officer in-charge of claims and dispatch.

Included in this letter is your donation pin number to be used when claiming your donation. Your donation pin number is "21556770665477". This number should be kept strictly confidential by you, as you will use it in receiving your donation.

Based on the information provided above, you are advised to immediately contact the Payment officer in the United Nations Organization (UNO) office in Abuja, Nigeria for the claims of your donation. Please do contact the officer with the below given information.

CONTACT INFORMATION.
Mr.Musa Piyanun .
PAYOUT OFFICER, UN-HEAD OFFICE.
PLOT 4, BLOCK 47,
GARKI-ESTATE, ABUJA, NIGERIA
WEST AFRICA.

TEL: +234-8022171336
FAX: +234-8050517346.
EMAIL: donation.grant@united-no.org

Do note that on contact with Mr. Musa Piyanun, you are to provide him with your full name and address. This will enable the United Nations office prepare a check totaling $500,000.00 USD (Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars ) and all necessary documents required to clear/cash the cheque in your name.

While contacting the UN head office write to them directly through the email address provided above and also give them a phone call to inform the payment officer that you have just sent him an email so that he could respond to you mail immediately

The Fondazione Di Vittorio Italy has discovered a huge attempt on double claiming due to the fact that winners inform close friends relatives and third parties about their Donations and also share their pin numbers. As a result of this, these friends try to claim the Donations on behalf of the real winners, the Fondazione Di Vittorio has reached a decision from her headquarters that any attempt of such acts if discovered by the UN will result to the canceling of that particular Donations, making a loss for both the double claimer and the real winner, as it is taken that the real winner was the informer to the double claimer about the Donations, So therefore we strongly advised that you keep your Donations data’s strictly confidential until you claim your prize please note.

Finally, note that speedy adherence to this instructions will determine the quick release of your donation.

Thank you for your good co-operation in this matter, congratulations once again.

Signed,
Executive Secretary- Mr Greg Galantucci.
Fondazione Di Vittorio program (Monopoli Italy).



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam