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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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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "million 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)
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • bt_homes@sify.com

Fraud email example:

From: "BT HOMES" <bt_homes1@rediffmail.com>
Date: 20 Jul 2007 04:22:50 -0000
Subject: URGENT ASSISTANCE!!!


Dear Sir/Madam,
I hope my email meets you well. I am in need of your assistance. My name is Sgt Jarvis M. Reeves, Jr.
I am in the Engineering military unit here&nbsp; in Iraq,we have about&nbsp;Nine Million US dollars that we want to move out of the country. My partners and I need a good partner someone we can trust.
But we are moving it through diplomatic means, to send it to your house directly or a bank of your choice using diplomatic courier service. Can we trust you once the funds get to you?
Please let me know how much percentage you are willing to accept for&nbsp; your assistance. If you are interested I will furnish you with more&nbsp; details. But the whole process is simple and we must keep a low profile at&nbsp; all times.
The information I want from you are: (1) your full &nbsp;(1) your full name. (2) Your full address. (3) Your age &amp; occupation. (4) Your private telephone and fax numbers.(5)your internation passport first and second page of it
Kindly contact me via my private Email: bt_homes@sify.com
Regards,
Sgt Jarvis Reeves

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam