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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• 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 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:
  • "claims 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.
  • kevin777bright@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "seekers world" <seekersworld@msn.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Feb 2006 19:45:08 +0000
Subject: AWARD WINNING.

FROM: THE DESK OF THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
SWEETWIN LOTTO PROMO LOTTERY, UNITED KINGDOM.
INTERNATIONAL
PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT.

Dear Winner,

We are please to announce you as one of the lucky winners in the SWEETWIN
LOTTO PROMO LOTTERY held on the 14th of Feb.All winning addresses,you
havetherefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of US$1.500,000.00 (0NE
MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND United states dollars)

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you
keep your winning information confidential until your claims has been
processed and your money emitted to you. This is part of our security
protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by
some participants. All participants were selected through a computer ballot
system drawn from over 40,000 company and 20,000,000 individual email
addresses and names from all over the world.

This promotional program takes place every year. This lottery was promoted
and sponsored by Association of software producers. we hope with part of
your winning,you will take part in our next year US$20 million international
lottery winner in this year's Annual SWEETWIN LOTTO PROMO LOTTERY.
Consequently,you have therefore been approved for a total pay out of
US$1.500,000.00 (ONE MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND) only.The following
particulars are attached to your lotto payment order:

(i) Winning numbers: FL-34-76-90-45
(ii) Email ticket number: FL-864/33/98
(iii) Lotto code number: FL-34876/UK
(iv) The file Ref number: FL/62/075983628/UK
Please contact the underlisted claims agent as soon as possible for the
immediate release of your winnings:

MR.KEVIN BRIGHT
Chief financial Director
SWEETWIN LOTTO PROMO LOTTERY
Email:kevin777bright@yahoo.com

N.B:Steps to claiming your prize;
1.Please quote your Reference number in all correspondence with the claims
officer.
Once again on behalf of all our staff,
CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Sincerely,
Grace Wood
Promotions Manager
The Lotto company.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam