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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:
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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:
  • "euro afro american lottery promotion" (no such lottery exists)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (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)
• 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.
  • im4u_john@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "rosea16" <rosea16@terra.com.co>
Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2008 05:11:00 -0300
Subject: International promotion


Euro Afro American Lottery promotion Switzerland


From the desk of: Mrs. Rose Albert


CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOUR WINNING!

We happily announce to you the draw of South African 2010 World cup Bid lottery Award International programs held in Zurich, Switzerland. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: B9665 75604546 199 with! Serial number 97560 drew the winning: Your name has therefore been approved to claim a total sum of US$2,000.000.00 (Two million United States Dollars)

This is from a total cash prize of Thirty million United States dollars shared among the first 200 lucky winners in this category worldwide. Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our lottery booklet representative office in South Africa as indicated in the play coupon.

Please you are advised to file for your claim immediately through our agent Mr. John Khumalo .His e-mail address is: im4u_john@hotmail.com, Tel: 27-83-660-4301.
NAME:..................................
ADDRESS:...............................
NATIONALITY:...........................
SEX:...................................
AGE:...................................
PHONE/MOBILE:..........................
FAX:...................................
OCCUPATION:............................
COMPANY:...............................
TICKET& SERIAL NUMBER

Yours truly,

Mrs. Rose Albert
(Zonal coordinator)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam