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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")
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "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!
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • globalafroasia@excite.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "GLOBAL AFRO ASIA LOTTERY" <globalafroasia@smygis.com>
Date: Fri, 12 May 2006 12:00:23 +0200
Subject: CONFIRM YOUR WINNING




GLOBAL AFRO -ASIA SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY
AN AFFILIATE OF FOUNDMONEY INTERNATIONAL
Hochstr.76a - 56112 Lahnstein - Germany

WINNING NOTIFICATION.

We happily announce to you the draw of the Global Afro Asia Sweepstake Lottery International programs held on 25th of April, 2006 in GERMANY .

Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: T/M/K610065-3EC812 which subsequently won you the lottery in the 3rd category.

You have therefore been approved to claim a sum of $ 500,000.00 (Five hundred Thousand United States Dollars) in cheque. This is from a total cash prize of US$40,000,000.00 Dollars, shared amongst the winners.

Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our Africa booklet representative in Abuja Nigeria as indicated in your play coupon, In view of this, your US$500,000.00 (five hundred Thousand United States Dollars) cheque would be released to you by our fiduciary agent in Abuja Nigeria.

Our Fiduciary agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your cheque as soon as you contact him.
All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web sites and guest books through computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000 individuals and companies.
This promotion takes place annually and it is sponsored by Sultan of Brunei, Bill Gates of Microsoft and his associates to encourage the use of internet and computers world wide.
For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential untill your claim is processed and your cheque delivered to your address through an approved delivering officer appointed specially for this program.
This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by unscrupulous elements.
Please be warned. To file for your claim, please contact by email first our fiduciary agent:

Name:Barrister Samuel Peterson,
Abuja Nigeria,
Email: globalafroasia@excite.com

To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, you are to contact the fiduciary agent in Nigeria with the followings details above.

Your full names, contact address, age, private telephone/fax number and occupation.
Quote your Ticket number in any correspondences with us or our designated agent.

Winners under 18 years of age will be automatically disqualified.
Congratulations, once more from all members and staffs of this program.
Thank you for being part of this promotional lottery program.
Our special thanks and gratitude to Sultan of Brunei, Bill Gates of microsoft and all his associates.

CONTACT YOUR FIDUCIARY AGENT DIRECTLY.

Sincerely,
Mrs Monica Harley
[ZONAL CO-ORDINATOR]
GLOBAL SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY
AN AFFILIATE OF FOUNDMONEY INTERNATIONAL
Hochstr.76a - 56112 Lahnstein - Germany
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This email was brought to you by Gossamer Mail 2!

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam