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

Fraud email example:

From: info.grantnotice2007@mchsi.com (Mrs Eliana Fabian)
Date: Tue, 09 Oct 2007 01:56:33 +0000
Subject: GRANT AWARD 2007

Foundation's Officer,
Fondazion Di Vittorio,
ITALY
http://www.fondazionedivittorio.it

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 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.

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).You are required to contact the Executive Secretary
below for qualification documentation and processing of your claims. After
contacting our office, 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.

To immediately further your claim and facilitate the immediate release of your
donation funds to you likewise other recipients around the globe, you are
required to assist in the documentation of your donation by giving the
information required in the form below.

DONATION RECIPIENT FORM.

Kindly provide all required information.
FULL NAMES………………………………………………………
ADDRESS……………………………………………………….......
NATIONALITY…………………………………………………
STATE………………………………………………………........
COUNTRY……………………………………………………....
TEL……………………………………………………………………
FAX……………………………………………………………………
AGE/DATE OF BIRTH………………………………………
SEX……………………………………………………………………
MARITAL STATUS…………………………………………
OCCUPATION……………………………………………………

Executive Secretary-Mrs. Benito Bona
Email:mrsbennto_bona_fdv@yahoo.it

Please note that these donations/Grants are strictly administered by "European
Union (EU), Economic community for West African States (ECOWAS)," under
delegated powers from the United Nations Organization (UNO). You are by all
means hereby advised 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. Finally, all funds should be claimed by their respective
beneficiaries, no later than15 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.

Regards.
Mrs Eliana Fabian
(Foundation officer).

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam