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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:

• 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 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!

Fraud email example:

From: Sweeps Stake Lottery <sweepslondon56@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <sweepsstakelotteryxx@i12.com>
Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2007 06:58:27 +0100
Subject: You Have Just Won (US$3,500,000.00) Prize, Congratulation



Sweeps stake Lottery.Affiliate of International Lottery organization London.WINNING NOTIFICATION:We happily announce to you the draw of the Sweeps stake Lottery International programs held on the 31st of July 2007 in UK London. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 644 79543465 BT44 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, you're (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 method 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: Mr. David West.Email: sweepsstakelotteryxx@i12.comTo avoid unnecessary delays and complications, you are to contact Mr. David West with followings details below:1. Your full name, telephone, contact address and2. Quote your Ticket number in any correspondences with our designated agent or us.Thank you for being part of our promotional lottery program.DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL CONTACT YOUR CLAIM AGENT DIRECTLY.Best Regards,Mrs. Charlotte Pirce.Zonal Coordinator.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam