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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:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "foreign service manager" (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)
  • "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.
  • fiduciarygregadams@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Fortunestake Lottery" <fortunstakes55@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: fiduciarygregadams@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 07 Feb 2007 01:50:19 +0000
Subject: FORTUNES LOTTERY WINNING NOTIFICATION

FORTUNE SWEEPSTAKES INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,
10 CAMELOT CLOSE THAMESMEAD LONDON E28 0ES UK .
REF: XYL /26510460037/06
BATCH: 24/00319/IPD

ATTENTION:WINNER!!!

                   AWARD NOTIFICATION; FINAL NOTICE (#379; 2007)
      We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today,7th Febuary,2007. of winners of the GRAND FORTUNE  LOTTO PROMO LOTTERY,THE UNITED KINGDOM/ INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS held on  25th January 2007.
     Your e-mail address is attached to ticket number 023-1111-790-459, with serial number 5073-10 drew the lucky numbers 43-10-42-37-10-43,  and consequently won the lottery in the 3rd category. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of US$1,000,000.00 (ONE MILLION DOLLARS) USD ONLY in cash credited to file REF: XYL/26510460037/06. 
     This is from total prize money of $17,000,000 USD. shared among the seventeen international winners in this category. All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn form 25,000,000 e-mail from Australia, New Zealand,Middle East, America, Europe, North/South America,African and Asia as part of International Promotions Program, which is conducted annually.CONGRATULATIONS

     Your fund is now deposited with a Bank/security company in UK insured in your name. Due to the mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep this award strictly from public notice until your claim has been processed and your money remitted to your account. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unscrupulous acts by participants of this program. We hope with a part of you prize,you will participate in our end of year high stakes US$8,5 million International Lottery.

 

To begin your claim, please contact our International claim agent;

Mr.Greg Adams

E-mail:fiduciarygregadams@gmail.com

 

FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER/CONSULTANT, For due processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice. Remember,all prize money must be claimed not later than 21th Febuary, 2007(with extension of time if possible) After this date, all funds will be
returned as unclaimed.

NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in every one of your correspondences with your agent.Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform your claims agent as soon as possible.

   THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,GRAND FORTUNE LOTTERY,THE UNITED KINGDOM.
NOTE: your Winnings Certificate/Deposit slip and all other relevant documents/paperwork can be prepared for you. You would be required to show an instrument of identification when cashing your cheque i.e. Driverslicense or International passport.

N.B. Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners willresult to disqualification.SORRY FOR THE LATE INFORMATION, THANKS.

Congratulations again from all our staffs and thank you for being part
of our promotions program.

 

Yours faithfully,
Edward Lance  (Sir)
Online coordinator for THE FORTUNE PROMO LOTTERY
Sweepstakes Bonus International Program.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam