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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "20 craven park, harlesden" (address often used in fake lottery scams)
• 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")
  • "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)
  • "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. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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.
  • claimsagent_mws@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: MRS KATE WATTERS <Microsoft@slingshot.co.nz>
Reply-To: claimsagent_mws@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Sat, 11 Aug 2007 17:22:09 +1200
Subject: MICROSOFT AWARD PROMOTION LOTTERY 2007




=09Microsoft Award Team
20 Craven Park, Harlesden
London NW10
United Kingdom
Ref: BTD/968/05
Batch: 409978E=20

=09Dear Sir/Madam,

=09=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=
=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 WIN=
NING
NOTIFICATION=20

=09The prestigious Micrsoft and Aol has set out and sucessfully
organised a Sweepstakes marking the end of year anniversary we rolled
out over $250,000(two hundred and fifty thousand dollars) for our end
of year Anniversary Draws. Participants for the draws were randomly
selected and drawn from a wide range of web hosts which we enjoy
their patronage.=20

=09The selection was made through a computer draw system attaching
personalised email addresses to ticket numbers. Bill Gates is sharing
his fortune. If you ignore this, you will regret it later.=20

=09Microsoft and AOL are now the largest Internet companies and in an
effort to make sure that Internet Explorer remains the most widely
used program, Microsoft and AOL are running an e-mail data test.
=C2=A0
Your email address as indicated was drawn and attached to ticket
number 008795727498 with serial numbers BTD/9080648302/06 and drew
the lucky numbers 14-21-25-39-40-47(20) which subsequently won you
$100,000.00 (one Hundred Thousand Dollars) already issued in a cheque
as one of the 10 jackpot winners in this draw. You have therefore won
the entire winning sum of $100,000.00 (one Hundred Thousand Dollars).
The draws registered as Draw number one was conducted in Brockley,
London United Kingdom . These Draws are commemorative and as such
special.

=09Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our Africa
booklet representative in west Africa indicated in your play coupon,
In view of this, your US$100,000.00 (Hundred Thousand United States
Dollars) cheque would be released to you by our fiduciary agent in
West Africa Our Fiduciary agent will immediately commence the process
to facilitate the release of your cheque as soon as you contact him.

=09Make contact with your designated agent who shall by duty guide you
through the process to facilitate the release of your winning
cheque.To file for your claim Please Contact your fiduciary agent
Barr Bright Luke=20
Microsoft Promotion Award Team
Email: claimsagent_mws@yahoo.co.uk[1]=20

=09You are advised to contact your fiduciary agent with the following
details to avoid unnecessary delays and complications with your Name
(in Full), Country, Ticket Number, Batch Number, Serial
Number and Lucky Numbers as indicated in this winning Notification.
Thank you for being part of this promotional award program.=20

=09Our special thanks and gratitude to Bill Gates and his associates.We
wish you the best of luck as you spend your good fortune.Thank you for
being part of our commemorative end of year Anniversary Draws.Happy
end of year celebration.=20

=09PLEASE NOTE! Any claim not made before seven (7) working days from
date of notification will indicate that the winner has voluntarily
forfeited his/her winnings,also=20

=09Sincerely,
Mrs Kate Watters=20
Microsoft Promotion Team=20


Links:
------
[1] mailto:claimsagent_mws@yahoo.co.uk

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam