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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:
  • "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)
  • ",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)
  • "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)
• 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.
  • unitednationsecowasoffice@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "UNITED NATIONS DONATION GRANT" <unitednationsecowasoffice@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 26 Jul 2008 16:26:27 -0400
Subject: Qualification numbers (N-444-7858, E-800-67)

IMPORTANT NOTICE!!!
United Nations Development Programme.

NOTIFICATION FOR DONATION TO YOU FOR DEVELOPMENT AT YOUR REGION.

United Nations Development Programme, and Charity in conjunction with the
Ecowas, European Union, are giving out a yearly donation of US$100,000,000.00
(One Hundred Million United States Dollars) to 100 lucky
recipients. 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.

This is to inform you that your Email address have won a prize money of
US$100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million United States Dollars) as one of the
final recipients of a Cash Grant/Donation for your own personal, education and
business development for this year 2008.

Based on the email 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$100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million United States
Dollars) as charity donations/aid from the UNDP, ECOWAS, EU and the UNO in
accordance with the enabling act of Parliament.

You are required to fill the form below and email it to our United Nations
Deligate below for qualification documentation and processing of your claims.
After contacting our office with the requested data, you will be given your
donation pin number, which you will use in collecting the funds. Please
endeavor to quote your Qualification numbers (N-444-7858, E-800-67) in all
discussions.

FULL NAMES:
ADDRESS:
CITY:
STATE:
COUNTRY:
SEX:
AGE:
MARITAL STATUS:
OCCUPATION:
E-MAIL ADDRESS:
TELEPHONE NUMBER:
====================================

SEND ALL INQUIRIES TO THE
United Nations Deligate- Dr Fred Matter
Email: unitednationsecowasoffice@gmail.com

Thank you and Accept my hearty congratulations once again!

Regards.
Mr. Alessandra Ceasar
(Foundation officer)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam