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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:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "million british pounds" (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.
  • claimsoffice_bmw@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MAILER DELIVERY" <bmw.automailer@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 13 Aug 2006 01:09:58 +0000
Subject: Unclaimed Winning Prize!!!


* *
*THE LOTTERY DEPARTMENT BMW
Automobiles
22 Garden Close, Stamford,
Lincs, PE9 2YP, London
United Kingdom*
*
BMW WINNING NOTIFICATION*
**
*We are pleased to inform you of the release, of the long awaited
results of the BMW CAR INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION PROGRAM held on
the 5th of August, 2006. *
*You were entered as dependent clients with: Reference serial Number
:BMW-2551256003/24 and Batch number CV-040SB06-03 . Your email address
attached to the Ticket number: 2752246896 that drew the lucky winning
number, which consequently won the sweepstake in the first category,in four
parts. You have been approved for a payment of £350, 000.00GBP (US$650,
757.20) (THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND GREAT BRITISH POUNDS) in cash
alongside a Brand New BMW 5 Series Car . This is from a total cash prize of
five million British Pounds shared among all our international winners in
all categories. Congratulations!!! *
**
*Description of prize car:*
**
**
**
**
*Year: 2006
Model: 520d
Color (exterior/interior): Black Sapphire Metallic/Black Leather
Mileage: 5
Transmission: Automatic 6 Speed
Options: Cold weather package, premium package, fold down rear seats w/ski
bag, am fm stereo with single in dash compact disc player. *
*The BMW Lottery is approved by the British Gaming Board and also Licensed
by the The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR). This
promotional lottery is the 3rd of its kind and we intend to sensitize the
public. *
*The selection process was carried out through random selection in our
computerized email selection system(ess) from a database of over 250,000
email addresses drawn from all the continents of the world which your email
address was selected. Due to mixed up of some names and addresses, we ask
that you keep this award details safe and personal till your claims has been
processed and your funds remitted to you. This is a part of our security
measures to avoid double claims or unwarranted participants/imposters,
taking advantage of the situation. You are to contact your/our-accredited
agent for your claim now.

================================================================*
*BMW LOTTERY DEPARTMENT UK
7 DOCK WAY, SEFTON BUSINESS PARK
LONDON, T40 4RT
United Kingdom
Mr Paul Young*
*Email: claimsoffice_bmw@yahoo.co.uk<http://uk.f253.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=claimsoffice_bmw@yahoo.co.uk>
*
*================================================================*
**
*He is your agent, and he is responsible for the processing and transfer of
your winnings to you. Your secret pin code is x7pwyz2005 (keep personal)
Remember, your winnings must be claimed on time (at least 1-2weeks) after
notification . Failure to claim your prizes (CAR/CASH) would result to
forfeiting and will be used for the next CAR international lottery program.
*
*Contact him by please providing him with your secret pin code x7pwyz2005
and your Reference serial Number BMW-2551256003/24.You are also advised to
provide him with the under listed informations as soon as possible: *
**
*1.Name in full.
2.Address.
3.Nationality.
4.Age.
5.Occupation.
6.Mounthly income.
7.Phone/Fax.
8.Present Country.
9.Short comment on our products. [optional].
10.Email address.*
*==================================================================
Please ensure you provide him with the above listed details immediately so
he can begin with the processing of your prize winnings. Furthermore, should
there be any change in your contact address, do inform your claims agent as
soon as possible. *
*Congratulations again from all our staff and thank you for being part of
our promotional program.*
**
*Sincerely,
Mr. Chris Blee
THE DIRECTOR PROMOTIONS
BMW LOTTERY DEPARTMENT
UNITED KINGDOM.*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam