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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")
• 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.
  • zonal.sweepsstake@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Sweepsstake Lottery" <ssweepsstake95@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: zonal.sweepsstake@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 01 Feb 2007 13:25:21 +0000
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION: YOU HAVE JUST WON (US$3,500,000.00) CONGRATULATIONS! ! !

Sweepsstake Lottery An Affiliate of International
Lottery Organization London.
Address:58 Queensway,Suite 161.London w2 3rd England.
From:The Managing Director Internaltional Prize Award Dept.
 
WINNING NOTIFICATION:
 
We happily announce to you the draw of the Sweepsstake Lottery International programs held on the 1st of January 2007 in London. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 644 79543465 B44 which subsequently won you the lottery in the 3rd category.You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of US$3,500,000.00(Three Million Five Hundred United States Dollars). This is from a total cash prize of US$35 Million Dollars,shared among the first hundred (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 US$3,500,000.00 (Three Million Five Hundred United States Dollars) would be released to you by our security firm 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.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 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:
 
Michael Jones Email: zonal.sweepsstake@hotmail.com To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, you are to contact Mr.Michael Jones with followings details below:
 
1. Your full name, contact address telephone and fax number.
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 DIRECTLY.
 
Best Regards,
 
Mrs.Jennifer Smith.
 
Zonal Coordinator.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam