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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
• 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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447045707198 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: BMW AWARD NOTIFICATION <mrsoxfordwilliams15@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <mrsoxfordwilliams1@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2007 04:07:07 +0000
Subject:



BMW PRIZE AND AWARD NOTIFICATION Reference Number BMW:2551256003/23 Watford, Head Office and Regional Centre BMW HOUSE, Tolpits Lane, Watford, Herts, WD18 9RN REF NO: BMW:2551256003/23 BATCH: 109/91300/EML
Dear Winner, We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today of winners of the BMW JACKPOT LOTTO WINNINGS PROGRAMS held on 14th of July, 2007. Your company or your personal e-mail address, is attached to ticket number 9901-0148-790-691, with serial number 66109-17 drew the lucky numbers 990-11-815-37-10-83, and consequently won the lottery in the 2nd category. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of £420,000.00 in cash credited to file REF NO: EML/ 56-TF-8890776. This is from total prize money of £10,500,000.00 shared among the Twenty five (25) international winners in this category.
For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims is processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize. This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements.Please be warned. To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent:
Name:Mrs.Oxford Williams E-mail: mrsoxfordwilliams1@hotmail.comTel: +44-704-570-7198
He is your agent, and responsible for the processing and transfer of your winnings to you. YOUR SECURITY FILE NUMBER IS BMW-91237-H67/B4 (keep personal). You are required to forward the following details to help facilitate the processing of your claims and certificate which will facilitate the release of your winnings.
1. Full Names: 2. Residential Address: 3. Phone Number: 4. Fax Number: 5. Occupation: 6. Sex: 7. Age : 8. Nationality: 9. Present Country: 10.Your Reference/Batch Numbers:
To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please quote the above information in any correspondences with us or our delivery firm Congratulations once more from all members and staffs of this program.
Sincerely, Catherine Grant (Mrs.), Online Cordinator Bmw Promotion
Copyright © 2007 Bmw Inc.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam