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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:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
• 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.
  • +27833343931 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • southafricaclaimdept@yahoo.it (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: free lotto <freelot44@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2007 09:00:11 +0200
Subject: You Are A Winner




Award Notification.























































































































We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today of your email selection as one of the five winners in the concluded draw held to promote South African 2010 World Cup, You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of 1,400,000.000USD.(One Million Four Hundred Thousand Dollars.)This program is being launch to create awareness and to promote South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup. Is a program sponsored by Cocacola British American tobacco companies South Africa, Free lotto Organisation.
You are advice to contact South Africa Claim Department below for your winning prize -MR. CLIFF ZUMA
Email: southafricaclaimdept@yahoo.it
Tel:+27-83-334-3931.Fax:+27-86-518-1825.
In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote Your reference and batch numbers in every one of your correspondences with your claims agent Mr Cliff Zuma.
REF NO: MELI-T/ 17-F044262312Batch No:901/00319/HLPZonal Draw No: GMLA2-003Grand Draw No: 12099
Winners must send their names,address,telephone number and means of identification (international passport or drivers licence)to claim officer, via email or fax, to process the immediate payment of your prize.
Congratulations once again.
Sincerely,
The Promotions Manager.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam