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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 LOTTERY DEPARTMENT" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bmwcompanyinc@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 4 Mar 2017 05:28:34 -0800
Subject: DEAR WINNER,

Dear Winner,
 
This is to inform you that you have been selected for a prize of a
brand new 2017 Model BMW 7 Series Car, Apple Laptop and a Check of
$1,500,000.00 USD from the international balloting programs held in
the UNITED STATE OF AMERICA.
 
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 you were selected.
 
The BMW Lottery is approved by the British Gaming Board and also
Licensed by the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR).
To begin the processing of your prize you are to contact our fiduciary
claims department for more information as regards procedures to the
claim of your prize.
 
Name: MR. DANIEL SMITH
Email:  bmwcompanyinc@gmail.com
 
Contact him by providing him with your secret pin code Number
BMW:2551256003/23. You are also advised to provide him with the under
listed information as soon as possible:
 
1. Name In Full :
2. Residential Address :
3. Nationality :
4. Age :
5. Occupation :
6. Direct Phone :
7. Present Country :
8. Email address :
9. pin code Number BMW:
 
Mrs. Rachael Adams.
THE DIRECTOR PROMOTIONS
BMW LOTTERY DEPARTMENT
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Anti-fraud resources: