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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.

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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 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:
  • "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +2348067177704 (Nigeria, 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.
  • ecowasheadoffice39@yahoo.it (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Fondazion Di Vittorio, ITALY" <info@fdv.it>
Reply-To: ecowasheadoffice39@yahoo.it
Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2007 23:00:28 +1200
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS CONTACT ECOWAS HEAD OFFICE IMMEDIATELY.




=09Foundation's Officer,
Fondazion Di Vittorio, ITALY
http://www.fondazionedivittorio.it[1]

=09Congratulations!!!

=09The Foundazion di Vittorio, would like to notify you that you have
been chosen by the board of trustees as one of the final recipients
of a cash Grant/Donation for your own personal, educational, and
business development.=20

=09The Fondazione Di Vittorio, established 1977 by the Multi-Million
groups and now supported by the Economic Community for West African
States (ECOWAS), United Nations Organization (UNO) and the European
Union (EU) was conceived with the objective of human
growth,educational, and community development.

=09To celebrate the 28th anniversary program, The Vittorio Foundation
in conjunction with the Economic Community for West African States
(ECOWAS), United Nations Organization (UNO) and the European Union
(EU) is giving out a yearly donation of US$100,000,000.00 (One
Hundred Million United
States Dollars) to 100 lucky recipients.=20

=09These specific Donations/Grants will be awarded to 100 lucky
international recipients worldwide; in different categories for their
personal business development and enhancement of their educational
plans. At least 15% of the awarded funds should be used by you to
develop a part of your environment. This is a yearly program, which
is a measure of universal development strategy.

=09You are required to fill the form below and email it to our Head
Office below for qualification documentation and processing of your
claims.=C2=A0After contacting our Head office with the requested data,
you will be given your donation pin number, which you will use in
collecting the funds. Please endeavor to quote your Qualification
numbers (N-222-6747, E-900-56) in all discussions.

=09FULL NAMES:__________________________________
ADDRESS: _________________________________________________
CITY:_________________________
STATE:__________________________________ ZIP: ______________
COUNTRY________________________________
SEX:_______________
AGE:__________________
MARITAL STATUS:_________________
OCCUPATION:________________________
E-MAIL ADDRESS:_____________________________
TELEPHONE NUMBER:_____________________

=09=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
ECOWAS HEAD OFFICE
PLOT 4, BLOCK 23, GARKI, ABUJA - NIGERIA
Dr.Karimu Jude.
Email: ecowasheadoffice39@yahoo.it[2]
TEL:=C2=A0=C2=A0 +234 806 717 7704

=09All information is strictly confidential and will only be used for
the purpose to which it is been requested.Please note that these
donations/Grants are strictly administered by Economic community for
West African States (ECOWAS), European Union (EU), under delegated
powers from the United Nations Organization (UNO).=20

=09This means that your qualification number will be reffled to know
the organisation (ECOWAS or EU) that will handle your payment. You
are to keep this whole information confidential until you have been
able to collect your donation, as there have been many cases of
double and unqualified claim, due to beneficiaries informing third
parties about his/her donation.

=09Finally, all funds should be claimed by their respective
beneficiaries,no later than 15 days after notification. Failure to do
so will mean cancellation of that beneficiary and its donation will
then be reserved for next year?s recipients. On behalf of the Board
kindly, accept our warmest congratulations.

=09Regards.
Mr.Galantucci Giovanni
(Foundation officer)
Fondazion Di Vittorio, ITALY.

Links:
------
[1] http://www.fondazionedivittorio.it/
[2] mailto:ecowasheadoffice39@yahoo.it

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam