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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

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:

Fraud email example:

From: BMW AUTOMOBILE <bmwautomobile@bmwclaimspromo.com>
Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2007 11:14:54 +0000
Subject: VERIFICATION FORM (fill and return)






United Kingdom.

Reference Number: BMW: 2551256003/23Secret pin code: x7pwyz2007.
This year’s lottery promo is for all BMW AUTOMOBILES lover all over the world. You are extremely lucky to be among the winners, and to continue to process of claiming your winnings, you are to fill the claims/verification form below
1. Name in full.
2. Address.
3. Nationality.
4. Reference Number.
5. Secret Pin.
6. Age.
7. Occupation.
8. Phone/Fax.
9. Present Country.
10. Short comment on our products. (Optional)
11. Fax [optional].
This is to avoid double claiming and misappropriation of funds.
Once again congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Regards.Dunace Clem FIDUCIARY AGENT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Lottery Promotion is solely sponsored by the BMW Group UK 22 Garden Close, Stamford Lincs, PE9 2YP London Registered in England No. 2822567.© Copyright BMW AG, Munich, Germany, and BMW UK. All rights reserved. The contents of this e-mail from the BMW Group are all subject to copyright and other intellectual property protection. These objects may not be copied for commercial use or distribution, nor may these objects be modified or reposted to other forms. Some BMW notices may contain subjects whose copyrights are attributable to third parties.

Anti-fraud resources: