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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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)
  • "00,000.00" (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.
  • m09atkins@yahoo.de (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: UN<ungrants.wa@unfoundation.org>
Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2007 01:21:38 -1100
Subject: Grant.

United Nations Foundation,
Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 400
Washington, D.C. 20036
http://www.unfoundation.org/

Dear Sir/Madam,

UN Foundation Grant.

This is to notify you that you have been chosen By the Board of trustees of the above International (Charity & Human
Developmental) Organization, as one of the final recipients of a Cash Grant/Donation for your personal development.

The UN Foundation was created in 1998 with entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turners' historic $1 billion gift to
support UN Causes and activities.

The UN Foundation builds and implements public-private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and
broadens support for the UN through advocacy and public outreach. The UN Foundation is a public charity.

The Secretary-General established the United Nations Fund for International Partnerships (UNFIP) in March 1998 to
coordinate, channel and monitor contributions from the UN Foundation. UNFIP is the central administrative vehicle within
the UN system to identify and select projects for UN Foundation funding, receive and distribute UN Foundation funds, and
monitor and evaluate the use of UN Foundation funds.

In line with the arrangements for the 10th year anniversary program this year, the UN Foundation in conjunction with the
Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS), United Nations Organization (UNO) and the European Union, is giving
out a yearly donation of Ten Million United States Dollars as specific Donations/Grants to 100 lucky International
recipients worldwide in different categories for their personal and community development and upliftment of their
educational morale. The objective is to make a notable change in the standard of living of people in United Nations
Member Countries.

Based on the random selection of internet WebPages and millions of Supermarket cash invoices worldwide you were selected
among the beneficiaries to receive the sum of US$100,000.00 (One hundred thousand United States Dollars) as
developmental aid from the UN Foundation, in accordance with the enabling act of Parliament Be informed that the UN
Foundation has been assured of highest Organization standard courtesy of the United Nations if we can achieve a great
positive change in the general welfare of the universe through this program.

Beneficiaries have been chosen from every UN Member Nation from all Continents. The idea of this donation is that within
ten years from now, there will be notable wealth among many unusual people around the world. This will give everyone the
opportunity to improve their standards of living. It’s important to note that you will only be chosen to receive the
donation once, which implies that subsequent yearly donation will not get to you again.

The British Quality Foundation (http://www.quality-foundation.co.uk) has been appointed to oversee this development
affair.

You are required to expeditiously Contact the Executive Secretary of the British Quality Foundation with the details
below for documentation and processing of the release of your cash aid, between the hours of 8.00am - 7.00pm on Monday
through Saturday.

Please endeavor to quote your Qualification numbers (UNF-816-7779, G-700-14) in all discussions.

Executive Secretary; British Quality Foundation - Mr. Michael Atkins

Email: m09atkins@yahoo.de Telephone: + 44 704.576.1089

Please note that the release of your cash aid/donations is to be administered by The British Quality Foundation under
delegated powers from the UN Foundation.

You are hereby advised to keep this whole information confidential until your donations have been duly remitted to you.
There have been many cases of double and unqualified claim, due to beneficiaries divulging details of donations to third
parties.

On behalf of the Board,

Yours faithfully,

Timothy E. Wirth
President,
United Nations Foundation.
http://www.unfoundation.org/

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam