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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:
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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")
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "hundred thousand us 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)
• 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.
  • sstakes_agent@yahoo.co.uk
  • garyralfe@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: UNITED KINGDOM LOTTERY PROMOTION <sweepstake_project_08@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 8 Nov 2007 04:24:38 +0200
Subject: Your email address lucky selection won USD $3.5M



Fiduciary Agent OfficeVerification Unit DeptSweep Stake Lottery Affiliate of International Lottery organization.14 Fox Rd, Suite 321.London W4 3RW England.

NOVEMBER 07 2007.

YOUR WINNING NOTIFICATION. We happily announce to you the draw of the SWEEP STAKE LOTTERY International programs held on the 2nd of November 2007 in London England.Your e-mail address attached to the winning numbers below has won you an equivalent of US$3,500, 000.00

Ticket number: 933 79543465 M44Serial Number: 6395-408AWL Batch Number: D51/10872004PDULottery Reference Number: 63-76-95-27-14 This subsequently won you the lottery in the 3rd category. You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of £1,973,054(One Million Nine hundred and seventy three thousand point fifty-four pound sterling (Three Million five hundred thousand US Dollars only). This is from a total cash prize of £19.73054 Million pound sterling,shared amongst the first (10) lucky winners in this category.Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet representative office in London as indicated in your playcoupon. In view of this, your £1,973,054 (One Million Nine hundred and seventy three thousand point fifty-four pound sterling) that is equivalent to US$3,500, 000.00 (Three Million five hundred thousand USDollars only) would be released to you by The SWEEP STAKE LOTTERY andour paying bank. Our European agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact him.All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web sitethrough computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000 individuals and companies through their online play. For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims has been processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit.
This is part of our precautionary measure is to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by unscrupulous elements.
Please be advised! The SWEEP STAKE LOTTERY shall in no way be deemed liable for any double claims that result through winner indiscretion. To file for your claim, you are advised to Contact our Certified and Accredited claims agents for Category "C" winners.
Name : Ms. Sharon Stock
Email: sstakes_agent@yahoo.co.uk

SEND COPY TO: . DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS (VERIFICATION UNIT DEPT.)
Name : Mr. Gary Ralfe Email: garyralfe@yahoo.co.uk

With the following details.
1.Beneficiaries Full Names2.Beneficiaries Residential Address 3. Telephone/Fax number:4. Occupation5. Sex6. Age7. Nationality8. Present Country of Residence Congratulations, once more from all members and staffs of this program. Thank you for being part of our promotional lottery program. DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL.CONTACT YOUR CLAIM AGENTS Ms. Sharon Stock /OR Mr. Gary Ralfe DIRECTLY. SPONSORS:-CHIEF SPONSOR;MICROSOFT CO-OPERATIONS UK;MICROSOFT CO OPERATIONS ASIAMICROSOFT CO-OPERATIONS USA;AMTRAK COURIER EXPRESS;GLOBAL COURIER EXPRESS. Best Regards,Stella Andrews (Mrs.)Sweep Stake Zonal-Online Coordinator.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam