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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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "(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!
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • foundationoffice97@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: foundationoffice97@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:22:33 +0200
Subject: Re: Very urgent


THE FOUNDATION DE FRANCE(FDF)
16 Rue Lanterne,
Lyon 69001, France.

http://www.fdf.org

The Foundation De France (FDF) would like to notify you that you have
been
chosen by the board of trustees as one of the final recipients of a
cash
Grant/Donation for your own personal, educational, and business
development.

The FDF, established 1977 by the Multi-Million groups and now supported
by
the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS), United Nations
Organization (UNO) and the European Union (EU) was conceived with the
objective of human growth, educational, and community development. In
conjunction with the ECOWAS, UNO and the EU, We are giving out a yearly
donation of US$1,350,000.00 ( One million, Three hundred and Fifty
thousand United states dollars only) each to 100 lucky recipients.

These specific Donations/Grants will be awarded to 100 lucky
international recipients worldwide, in different categories. Based on the random
selection exercise of internet websites and millions of supermarket
cash invoices worldwide, you were selected amongst the lucky recipients to
receive the award sum of US$1,350,000.00 as charity donations/aid.
Nevertheless, according to the federal and international law concerning
the
personal collection of prize winnings, your broker fees, and
tariff fees, have already been deducted from your donation.
(congratulations once again).

CONTACT THE SECRETARY FOR MORE INFORMATIONS ON YOUR CLAIMS,
Please endeavor to quote your Qualification numbers (FDF-444-6647-9163)
in all discussions.

Executive Sec. Barrister Harry hector
Email: foundationoffice97@yahoo.co.uk

Please note, that these donations/Grants are strictly administered by
the EU, ECOWAS, and UNO. You are by all means hereby advised to keep this
whole information confidential. Until you have been able to collect your
donation.
..............................................................
You would be required to send down the following information.
..............................................................
1,NAME
2,COUTRY
3,ADDRESS,
4,STATE,
5,PHONE NUMBER
6,DATE OF BIRTH
7,SEX
8,OCCUPATION.

On behalf of the Board kindly, accept our warmest congratulations.

Regard's
Mrs. Christie Cisse
COUNSELLOR, ECOWAS.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam