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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ronaldstevbmw@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 2 Dec 2017 23:41:10 +0100
Subject: BMW LOTTERY DEPARTMENT held this day 2nd of December 2017

NOTE: If you received this message in your SPAM/BULK folder, that is because of the restrictions implemented by your Internet Service Provider, we (BMW) urge you to treat it genuinely.
Dear BMW Enthusiast,
This is to inform you that you have been selected for a prize of a brand new 2017 Model BMW 7 Series Car and a Check of $500,000.00usd from international programs held on the first section of 2017 in the UNITED STATES 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 BMW fiduciary claims department for more information as regards procedures to claim your prize.
Fiduciary Name: Chris Kelvin
Email: agentchrisfbi@gmail.com
Verification Agent: Ronald Steve
Contact To: ronaldstevbmw@gmail.com
Contact them by providing them with your secret pin code Number BMW:2551256943/23. You are also advised to provide to them with the under listed information as soon as possible:
1. Name in full.
2. Address.
3. Nationality.
4. Age.
5. Occupation.
6. Phone/Fax.
7. Present Country.
8. Email address.
9. pin code Number BMW:2551256943/23.
Note: Do disregard any email as this is a PROMO BMW LOTTERY DEPARTMENT held this day  2nd of December 2017.
Mr. Norbert Reithofers
THE DIRECTOR PROMOTIONS
BMW SALES LOTTERY DEPARTMENT
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Anti-fraud resources: