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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:

• 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")
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash)
• 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.
  • robertbrownsmith@zipmail.com.br

Fraud email example:

From: "Mega Lotto" <mega_lottouk1@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2005 09:41:16 -0500
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION / FINAL NOTICE

Dear Winner

FROM: THE DESK OF THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS / PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,
MEGA LOTTO PROMO LOTTERY,
HEADQUARTERS:
10 NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE,
LONDON WC2N 5BX, THE UNITED KINGDOM.

REF: OYL/25041238044/02
BATCH: 24/00366/IPD
RE- WINNING NOTIFICATION / FINAL NOTICE
We happily announce to you the draw number 620 of MEGA PROMO LOTTERY, UNITED
KINGDOM / INTERNATIONAL, PROGRAMS which held on the 1st Sept 2005.
Your e-mail address is attached to ticket number: 023-0148-790-211, with
serial number 5073-11 drew the lucky numbers 43-11-44-37-10-54, which
subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category.
It is our pleasure to inform you that you have emerged as a Category "B"
winner of the SUNSWEETWIN LOTTO PROMO LOTTERY.
You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of Eight Hundred and
Fifty Thousand America dollars ($850,000USD) in cash credited to file REF
NO.OYL/25041238044/02. This is from a total cash prize of Fourteen Million,
Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand-America Dollars ($14,450,000.00USD), shared
amongst the first seventeen- (17) lucky winners in this category B". Please
note that your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet
representative office in Europe as indicated in your play coupon.
In view of this, the Certified Bank Check of your Eight Hundred and Fifty
Thousand America Dollars ($850,000USD) would be released to you by our
security firm in London, or better still ON-LINE WIRE TRANSFER to your
designated Bank Account. U.K. Our European agent will immediately commence
the process to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact
him.

As a category "B" winner, all participants for the free online lotto version
were selected randomly from World Wide Web site through the computer draw
system and extracted from over 100,000 names / companies from Africa,
Australia, New Zealand, America, Europe, North America and Asia as Part of
International Promotions Program, which is Conducted Bi-Annually. After the
computer ballot of our International Promotions Program, only first
seventeen- (17) lucky winners were emerged in this category and therefore
both are to receive payouts of Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand America
dollars ($850,000USD) from the total cash prize of Fourteen Million, Four
Hundred and Fifty Thousand-America Dollar ($14,450,000.00USD), for second
category winners.
Due to mix up of some numbers and names, and for security reasons, you are
advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claim is
being processed and your Certified Bank Cheque received BY you.
This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and
unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements. So be
warned. To file for your claim, please contact our Category "B" fiduciary
agent who is your claims agent:
MR. Robert Brown-smith
FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER.
TRANSWORLD CLEARING SYSTEM
Email: robertbrownsmith@zipmail.com.br
However, it should be noted that all won prize must be claimed not later
than 5th of oct 2005. Any claim not made before this date will be returned
back to the MEGA LOTTO PROMO LOTTERY as unclaimed won prize. NOTE: In order
to avoid unnecessary delays and Complications, please remember to quote your
Reference and batch numbers in your correspondences with your claim agent.
Furthermore, should there be any Change of your address, do inform our
fiduciary agent who is your claims agent as soon as possible.
Congratulations again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our
promotional lottery program, and it is our hope that apart of your won
prize, you will participate in our middle of the year high stakes
US$25.5 Million International Lottery. Good luck from me and members of
staff of the UK MEGA LOTTO

Sincerely,
George Williams
The Promotions Manager.
MEGA LOTTO PROMO LOTTERY, UNITED KINGDOM.

N.B. any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will
result to disqualification.



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam