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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "million 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)
• 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.
  • +27766502273 (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.
  • odumodumike@jmail.co.za

Fraud email example:

From: golden balll <ballllgodengold12@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Nov 2007 19:36:12 +0200
Subject: GOLDEN BALL LOTTERY;GOOD NEWS



GOLDEN BALL LOTTERY175 FOREST ROAD,JOHANNESBURG, 2193.SOUTH AFRICA. CONGRATULATIONS!! Dear Winner,We are pleased to announce you as one of the 3 lucky winners in the GOLDEN BALL LOTTERY SA draw held on 24th Nov. 2007. All 3 winningaddresses were randomly selected from a batch of 5,000,000 international emails. Your email address emerged alongside 2 others as a 3rd categorywinner in this month's draw.Consequently, you have therefore been approved for a total pay out of$1,000,000 Dollars (One Million Dollars) only. The followingparticulars are attached to your lotto payment order:(i) Winning numbers: 7, 39, 18, 10, 2, 30(ii) Serial number: 12-25-301(iii) Lotto batch number: GBL-315(iv) Reference number: NHF-202-3 Please contact the underlisted claims officer as soon as possible forthe immediate release of your winnings: MR.MARK ODUMODU.CLAIMS DEPARTMENT MANAGERNEW HORIZON FINANCEJOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICANEmail:mike@jmail.co.zaTel: +27-76-650-2273.Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep yourWinning information confidential until your claim has been processed.This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming andunwarranted abuse of this program by some participant.Once again on behalf of all our staff,CONGRATULATIONS!!!Sincerely,Mr. Norman King (Promotions Manager) N.B:1. All claims are nullified after 14 working days from today.2. Your Ref number must be in all your mails with the claims officer.3. Do inform the claims officer of any change of names or addresses. 4. All winners under the age of 18 are automatically disqualified.5. Please contact your claims agent by Telehpone, Fax or Email.MR.MARK ODUMODUmike@jmail.co.za
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam