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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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:
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • marcguei28@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "john mike" <johnmike109@ig.com.br>
Reply-To: gueimarc@yahoo.com.co
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2008 10:24:14 +0100
Subject: CONTACT MARC GUEI!!!!

*BMW GROUP **PROMOTION*
PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT, BMW
Automobiles
Can Humet De Dalt, Industrial Estate
Polinya, Barcelona, Spain

Attention: Lucky Winner,
*Message Dated The 20th Of Oct. 2008.*
This is to inform you that you have been selected for a cash prize of *
Ђ800,000.00* (Eight hundred thousand Dollars) from the *BMW e-LOTTERY
BONANZA* International programs held on Monday the 20th Oct. 2008, in
Barcelona,
Spain. The selection process was carried out through random selection in our
computerized email selection system from a database of over 350,000 email
addresses drawn from all the continents of the world which your e-mail were
selected. Addition of a BMW automobile car is includes, details would be
sent to you on claims processing.

The BMW e-Lottery is approved by the European 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. To begin the processing of your prize you are to contact our
fiduciary claims department in Benin for more information as regards
procedures to claim your prize.

PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT OFFICE BENIN
COTONOU - BENIN
Mr. Marc Guei
Email: bmwprizeawad2008@yahoo.com.co <marcguei28@yahoo.fr>
=======================================================
Contact him by providing him with your secret pin code* M70PBMW2007* and
your Reference Number *BMW: 23/2551256003.*You is also advised to provide
him with the under listed information's as soon as possible:

1. Name in full.-------------------------------------------------
2. Address.------------------------------------------------------
3. Nationality.--------------------------------------------------
4. Age.------------------------------------ ----------------------
5. Occupation.--------------------------------------------------
6. Telephone Number.-----------------------------------------
*Mobile.---------------------------------------------------------
7.Present Country.---------------------------------------------
8. Fax [optional].-----------------------------------------------
9. Email address. ----------------------------------------------
=======================================================
Please you are to provide him with the above listed details as soon as
possible so he can begin with the processing of your prize winnings.
Congratulations again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our
promotional program.
<marcguei28@yahoo.fr>
Engr. Sr Carlos Antonio
THE DIRECTOR PROMOTIONS
BMW PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
SPAIN
Regards,
Sr Carlos Antonio
FIDUCIARY/ AGENT
BMW GROUP PROMOTION.

Engr. Sr Carlos Antonio
DIRECTOR OF PROMOTIONS,
INTERNATIONAL AWARENESS PROMOTIONS,
BMW AUTOMOBILE.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam