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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• 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)
  • ",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)
  • "headquater" (this email uses bad English)
  • "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "cheques " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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!

Fraud email example:

From: <info@live.com>
Date: Sat, 27 Sep 2008 22:20:16 -0300
Subject: NOTIFICATION FOR CASH AID


Foundation's Officer,
Fondazion Di Vittorio, ITALY.
http://www.fondazionedivittorio.it
Email: foundazione_divittorioitaly2008@live.com

Dear Beneficiary,
NOTIFICATION FOR CASH AID.
This is to notify you that you have been chosen By the Board of trustees of
the above International charity organization based in Italy as one of the
final recipients of a Cash Grant/Donation for your own personal,education
and business development.
Fondazione Di Vittorio as established in1977 by a Multi-Million group
conceived with the objectives of Human Growth, Educational and Community
development. In line with the 28 years anniversary program this year. The
Vittorio 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 One Hundred Million (
$100,000,000.00 ) United States Dollars as specific Donations/Grants to 150
lucky international recipients worldwide in different categories for their
personal Business development and uplift of their enviroment. These funds
are freely given to you to use for your business educational and personal
development, and atleast 30% to be used by you to develop a part of your
environment, as this is a yearly program which is a measure of universal
development strategy, and eradication of poverty.
And please do not bother following up this email, if you have benefited from
this donation in previous years. Based on the random selection exercise of
internet websites and millions of Super market cash invoices worldwide you
were selected among the lucky recipients to receive the award sum of
US$850,000.00 (eight hundred and fifty thousand United states Dollars) as
charity donations/aid from the Vittorio Foundation, ECOWAS and the UNO in
accordance with the enabling act of Parliament. (note that your email was
selected either from the internet, after absolute viewing of your profile or
a Shop's cash invoice around your area which you might have purchased
something from).You are required to expeditiously Contact the Executive
Secretary below for qualification documentation and processing of your
claims, between the hours of 8.00am - 7.30pm on Monday through Sunday. On
contact with this officer, you'll be given your donation pin number which
you will use in collecting the funds. You are to contact this email below
when you have collected your US$850,000.00. Please endeavor to quote your
Qualification numbers (N-222-6747, E-900-56) in all discussions.
Executive Secretary- Mr. Riccardo Varanino Email address:
foundazione_divittorioitaly2008@live.com
Please note that this donations/Grants are strictly administered by
"ECOWAS"
under delegated powers from the UNO. you are 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 claims due
to beneficiaries informing third parties about his/her donation.
Finally, all funds should be claimed by their respective beneficiaries, not
later that 15 days after notification, as failure to do so will be to that
particular beneficiary cancelled and its donation reserved for next year's
receipients.
Let me remind you that this donation is a measure of universal development,
which was geared up by the accordance with the UNO, ECOWAS and EU. So you
are advised to use this donation for an investment that you know will bring
long lasting wealth to you and your family. as with this done yearly to over
a hundred receipients a year, this world will be a better place to live in
the next 20 to 25 years.


You are to immediately proceed with the processes of collecting of the
funds. Kindly note that all cheques written from each of the organisations
combining to bring up this donations (UNO, EU, ECOWAS & Vittorio
Foundation)
are with the Economic Comunity for West African States (ECOWAS). This
Organisation has been given the order to handle the payment, as our office
is strictly designated for information and documentation of your donation.
Furthermore, copy to this email is a vittorio foundation documentation form,
requesting your required particulars. You are to immediately fill the form
and return as soon as possible, to this E-mail address:
foundazione_divittorioitaly2008@live.com

VERIFICATION AND FUNDS RELEASE FORM
1.FULL NAMES:__________________________________
2.ADDRESS:_____________________________________________
3.SEX:_______________
4.AGE:__________________
5.MARITAL STATUS:___________________
6.OCCUPATION:________________________
7.E-MAIL ADDRESS:_____________________________
8.TELEPHONE NUMBER:_____________________
9.CITY:_________________________
14. STATE:__________________________________
15. COUNTRY________________________________

Upon receipt of the duly requested data, I will send you the contact
information of the ECOWAS officer, in the ECOWAS headquaters in Abuja,
Nigeria to handle the payment. Be rest assured that your datas will be kept
strictly confidential and will only be used for the purpose to which it is
been requested.

Do have a nice day,
Mr. Riccardo Varanino
Foundation secretary.
On behalf of the Board kindly accept our warmest congratulations.

Yours faithfully,
Mr. Gianni Mattioli.
Foundation officer

Ahora también puedes acceder a tu correo Terra desde el móvil.
Infórmate en www.terra.es/correo.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam