419 scam: "VITTORIO FONDAZIONE"<grant@fondazionedivittorio.it> Fondazion Di Vittorio

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

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:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
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 fondazione" (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)
- "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)
- "(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: "VITTORIO FONDAZIONE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <vittoriofondazio@live.com>
Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 18:16:05 -0000
Subject: Fondazion Di Vittorio

VITTORIO FONDAZIONE
Corso Ercole I d'Este 44,
Ferrara 44100 - Italy.

Foundation's Officer,
Fondazion Di Vittorio, ITALY

ATTN: Receipient

The Foundazion di Vittorio, 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 Fondazione Di Vittorio, 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. To celebrate the 30th anniversary program, The Vittorio Foundation in conjunction with the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS), United Nations Organization (UNO) and the European Union (EU) is giving out a yearly donation of US$1,000,000.00 (One 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 busine
ss development and enhancement of
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. The objective is to make a notable change in the standard of living of people all around the Universe. The Vittorio Foundation has been assured of highest organization standard courtesy of the United Nations. It is our belief that we can achieve a great positive change in the general welfare of the universe through this program. That is why the foundation is doing everything possible to get all recipients notified of their donation.Please fill the form below and email it to our Executive Secretary 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-568-7432,E-507-77) in all discussions.

1.FULL NAMES:
2.ADDRESS:
3.STATE:
4.ZIP:
5.COUNTRY:
6.SEX:
7.AGE:
8.OCCUPATION:
9.TELEPHONE NUMBER:
Executive Secretary- Cristiano Durante
Email: vittoriofondazio@live.com

All information is strictly confidential and will only be used for the purpose to which it is been requested. Finally, all funds should be claimed by their respective beneficiaries, no later than 15 days after notification. Failure to do so will mean cancellation of that beneficiary and its donation will then be reserved for next year's recipients.

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

Regards,
Mr. Guerino Marino
(Foundation Officer)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam