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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.

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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:
  • "vittorio foundation" (not involved with lotteries)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • ",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)
  • "(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!

Fraud email example:

From: grantdonation.info456@mchsi.com
Reply-To: grant_donation01@live.com
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 18:40:42 +0000
Subject:


Fondazion Di Vittorio, ITALY.
http://www.fondazionedivittorio.it/
The Foundazion di Vittorio Italy in conjunction with the Economic
Community for West African States(ECOWAS), United Nations Organization
is giving out a yearly donation of $1,000,000.00 to each 100 lucky
recipients,as charity donations/aid from the Vittorio Foundation,ECOWAS,and you are one of
our Lucky Winner.
you are to Contact the Executive Secretary with the information below.
Fill and submit the necessary processing information to him for
qualification documentation.
VERIFICATION AND FUNDS RELEASE FORM
1.FULL NAMES:---
2.HOME ADDRESS:---
3.SEX:---
4.AGE:---
5.OCCUPATION:---
6.TELEPHONE NUMBER:---
7.COUNTRY---
Executive Secretary- Mr.Giovanni Dominico
Email:grant_donation01@live.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam