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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.

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:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "million us 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)
• 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!
• 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.
  • frankwillrev@yahoo.co.uk
  • revwilliams40@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY" <sweepstake0001@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2006 03:03:38 +0000
Subject: You have won X3,500, 000.00 lottery prize award!!!

Sweepsstake International Lottery
Affiliate of International Lottery organization.
14 Fox Rd, Suite 321. London W4 3RW England


WINNING NOTIFICATION:

Dear Lucky Winner,

We happily announce to you the draw of the Sweepstake Lottery International
programs held on the 1st of Jenuary 2006 in London England. Your e-mail
address attached to

ticket number: 644 79543465 B4115
Serial Number: 6395-408AK
Batch Number: A51/10872004JJE,
Lottery Reference Number: 6376527711

which subsequently won you the lottery in the 3rd category. You have
therefore been approved to claim a total sum of £3,500, 000.00 (Three
Million,Five Hundred Thousand pound starling) which is equivalent to
US$7,000, 000.00 (Seven Million US Dollars only). This is from a total cash
prize of £29.73054 Million pound starling, shared amongst the first (10)
lucky winners in this category.

Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet
representative office in London as indicated in your play coupon. In view of
this, your £3,500, 000.00 (Three Million,Five Hundred Thousand pound
starling) which is equivalent to US$7,000.000.00 (Seven Million US Dollars
only) would be released to you by the Sweep Stake and our paying bank in
London. Our European agent will immediately commence the process to
facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact him.

All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web site through
computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000 individuals and
companies through their credit card play. This promotion takes place only
for this season before play coupon begins.

For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information
confidential till your claims is processed and your money remitted to you in
whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize. This is part of our
precautionary measure is to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of
this program by some unscrupulous elements. Please be warned! To file for
your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent:

REV.FRANK WILLIAMS Email: frankwillrev@yahoo.co.uk
revwilliams40@hotmail.com

To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, you are to contact Mr. Marc
Douglas with followings details below:

1. Your full name, telephone, contact address, sex and occupation
2. Quote your Ticket number in any correspondences with us or our designated
agent.

Congratulations, once more from all members and staffs of this program.

Thank you for being part of our promotional lottery program.

DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL. CONTACT YOUR CLAIM AGENT MARC DOUGLAS DIRECTLY.

Best Regards,

Mrs. Jennifer Smith
SWEEP STAKE Zonal Coordinator.

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam