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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "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)
• 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.
  • sweepinternational@winning.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Sweep Stake" <jennifersmith_sweepstake444@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 02 Aug 2006 13:48:43 +0000
Subject: YOU HAVE JUST WON ONE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS! CONGRATULATION!!!!!!!

Sweepstake Lottery
an Affiliate of International
Lottery Organization
London. UK.

WINNER NO: 644 79231101B44

ELECTRONIC MAIL AWARD WINNING NOTIFICATION AWARD

PRESENTATION CENTER:UNITED KINGDOM

Ref:63-76-95-27-14

Batch:D51/10872004PDU

Serial Number: 6395-408AWL

Ticket/Winning number: 644 79231101B44

CONGRATULATIONS


Dear Sir/Madam,

We are delighted to inform you the draw of the Sweepstake Lottery
International programs held on the 22nd April 2006 in London.Your
e-mail
address attached to ticket number: 644 79231101 B44,Serial
Number:6395-408AWL,Batch Number: D51/10872004PDU and Lottery Reference
Number:63-76-95-27-14 which subsequently won you the lottery in the 3rd
category.You
have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of US$1,000,000.00
(One Million United States Dollars).

This is from a total cash prize of US$35 Million Dollars, shared
amongst the lucky winners in this year's result. Please note that your
lucky
winning number falls within our African booklet representative office
in Nigeria as indicated in your play coupon. In view of this, your
US$1,000,000.00 (One Million United States Dollars)would be released to
you
by our security firm in Nigeria.

Our African agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate
the release of your prize 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.

HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE, Simply contact our fiduciary agent,

MR.GUINNESS LONG on (sweepinternational@winning.com)

To avoid unnecessary delays and complications,you are to contact
MR.GUINNESS LONG with followings details below:

1. Your full name, telephone, contact address and

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.


Yours faithfully,

Mrs.Jeniffer Smith.

PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL.CONTACT YOUR CLAIMS
AGENT:MR.GUINNESS LONG

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam