419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "affidavit of claim" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- ",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)
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
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: Jacko Maree <jackomaree1@att.net>
Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 07:10:31 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: CONGRATULATION!!! YOU EMAIL HAS WON 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP
TICKET/ACCOMMODATION

STANDARD BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA

2010 FIFA WORLD CUP SOUTH AFRICA TICKET/ACCOMMODATION
LOTTERY

CONGRATULATION!!!

YOU HAVE WON 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP TICKET/ACCOMMODATION STARTING FROM
JUNE 11th - JULY 11th 2010.

This is to inform you the beneficiary that your email was among the
12 lucky winners of 2010 FIFA World Cup Ticket/Accommodation worth $750,000.00
(Seven Hundred and Fifty Dollars) each from the just concluded annual grand
final draws by Standard Bank of South Africa in conjunction with MSN, AOL, HOTMAIL,
NET, YAHOO INC and FIFA.

This promo, 2010 FIFA World Cup Ticket/Accommodation held in Cape
Town, South Africa on 17th March 2010.

Your email was selected as runner up finalist with;

Winning Number: MB2208CF64

Ref Number: OYLINC/76850/82

Batch Number: BC30HND1

Serial Number: RFEAAVS-3448

Ticket Number: 275-189-657-23-05

This online draws was conducted by a random selection of email
addresses from an exclusive list of 402,000,000 email addresses of individual
and corporate bodies picked by computerized email selection machine (TOPAZ).
However, no tickets were sold but all email addresses were assigned to
different ticket numbers for representation and privacy.

This lottery is approved by the Standard Bank of South Africa/FIFA
and also licensed by the South Africa Lottery Regulator
(SALR). This lottery is its kind and MSN, AOL, HOTMAIL, NET and YAHOO intends
to assist legally by using this medium to sensitize the beneficiaries and
general public on this development during this month.

In other to claim your ticket/accommodation, you are required to
reconfirm your winner's particulars as accompanied above and send it
immediately via email to the Promotion Officer for processing and prompt
receiving of your prize;

Mrs. Clark Kimberly Sonja

Email: clarksonja75@att.net

For security reason, we advice all winners to keep this information
confidential from the public until your claim is processed and your prize
released to you.

APPROVED

Management

SIGNED

Jacko Maree

(CEO)

Standard Bank of South
Africa/FIFA

Box 1287 Port Shepstone

Chaka-South Africa

Congratulations once again from me and all the members of Standard
Bank of South Africa/FIFA.

NB: WINNERS ARE
OBLIGED TO CLEAR CHARGES FOR SWORN AFFIDAVIT OF CLAIM.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam