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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:

• 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:
  • "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)
  • "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)
• 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.
  • ang_parri@yahoo.it (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: web_information@mchsi.com (informationcentre@powerball.com)
Date: Sat, 22 Sep 2007 20:45:35 +0000
Subject: To whom it may concern.

To whom it may concern.

The 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. The 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,To 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 One
Hundred Million United States Dollars.These specific
Donations/Grants will be awarded to 100 lucky
international recipients worldwide; in different
categories for their personal business development and
enhancement of their educationalplans. 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.

Based on the random selection exercise of internet
websites and millions of supermarket cash invoices
worldwide, you were selected among the lucky
recipients to receive the award sum of US$500,000
(Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) as
charity donations/aid from the Vittorio Foundation,
ECOWAS, EU and the UNO in accordance with the enabling
act of Parliament. Note that all beneficiaries email
addresses were selected randomly from over 100,000
internet websites or a shop's cash
invoice around your area in which you might have
purchased something from).

For further details on how to receive your grant,
Please contact the Executive Secretary Executive

Secretary-
Mrs.Angela Parrinelo
Email: ang_parri@yahoo.it


Good Luck

Mr. Carlos Gianlucci.
(Special Announcer)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam