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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
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• 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.

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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)
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "Austin Rock" <austin_rock112@yahoo.co.uk> (may be fake)
Reply-To: austin_rock112@myway.com
Date: Thu, 11 May 2006 22:24:08 -0700
Subject: WE NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE TO INVEST IN PROPERTIES1

Dear Sir/Madam,
For security reasons, I wouldn't like to reveal the identity of my client right now until I receive your letter of intent to assist in this transaction.
For your information,my client have Twenty Million Dollars deposited in Diplomatic Courier Company and he wants to secretly invest this funds in choice properties (Commercial and Residential Houses) abroad due to political cartography in his country Benin Republic and I would appreciate it if you will kindly assist us to make this transaction a success for our mutual benefit.You will be responsible for managing the investment for my client until his arrival in your country with his family.
Your every assistance rendered to us in this regard will be highly appreciated and rewarded handsomely by my client.
Please when replying do not forget to let me have your private tel/fax numbers for easy and effective communication.
Yours faithfully,
Barrister Austin Rock.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam