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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "22 garden close, stamford" (address often used in fake lottery scams)
  • "the bmw automobile company" (no such lottery exists)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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.
  • +447024031245 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: VICTOR SLY <claims_victorsly01@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2007 16:53:06 +0100 (BST)
Subject: BMW WINNING PROCESSING FORM






THE INTERNATIONAL AWARENESS

PROMOTION DEPARTMENT OF

THE BMW AUTOMOBILE COMPANY.
22 Garden Close, Stamford ,
SE186LF , London
United Kingdom.




ATTN: Winner,

I am Mr. VICTOR SLY your claims officer, I wish to Congratulate on your success, you are a lucky person to have won the BMW Oracle Racing lottery.

This is a promotional draw which officially launches the new system. With funds accrued exclusively from previous draws,payouts to all winners are guaranteed and will be transferred in record time.

This correspondence officially confirms that we are in receipt of instructions relating to the payment of your lottery winnings. Please complete the form below with correct information and email back to us with a return email or via the fax number below. Looking forward to your swift response.

Yours Faithfully,
VICTOR SLY
Phone Number +44-702-403-1245


THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION SHOULD BE SUPPLIED COMPRE HENSIVELY BY THE BENEFICIARY OF T HE STATED FUND,FOR VERIFICATION BEFORE TRANSFER.


1.FULL NAMES OF BENEFICIARY: 2.RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS: 3.DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH: 4.PHONE/FAX NUMBERS: 5.NAME AND ADDRESS OF NEXT OF KIN: 6.SEX: 7.OCCUPATION: 8.MARITAL STATUS: 9.AMOUNT WON:
10.WINNING EMAIL:
11.NATIONALITY:


PAYMENT MODE: OPTIONS
1.BANK TO BANK TRANSFER. 2.CERTIFIED CHEQUE MADE OUT IN YOUR NAME COURIERED TO YOU VIA OUR AFFILIATE COURIER COMPANY AND WILL BE DELIVERED TO YOUR ADDRESS. NOTE:BENEFICIARIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR TRANSFER CHARGES. PLEASE INDICATE OPTION THAT BEST SUITS YOU.


DECLARATION:
I ............................... HEREBY DECLARE THAT THE ABOVE DATA ARE TRUE. IN CASE OF ANY UNFORSEEN CIRCUSTANCE,MY NEXT OF KIN HAS THE RIGHT TO CLAIM MY TOTAL WINNINGS.(SUPER STANDARD AGENT) SHALL ACT AS MY AGENT IN FACILITATING THE TRANSFER OF THE TOTAL FUND TO ME.

========================================================
This email and its attachments are confidential and intended for the exclusive use of the addressee(s).This email and its attachments may also be privileged or protected by legal rules. If you have received this by mistake please let us know by reply immediately and/or destroy the email and its attachments without reading, copying or forwarding the contents.




THE BMW INTERNATIONAL AWARENESS PROMOTION
COPYRIGHT ©2007. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED








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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam