419 scam: "MRS. KATTY SMITH" <claireciara630@gmail.com> Dear Email Owner,

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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:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "required fee " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "hundred thousand united state dollars" (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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "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)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
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.
- bmwlotterydept1@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "MRS. KATTY SMITH" <claireciara630@gmail.com>
Reply-To: bmwlotterydept1@aol.com
Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2021 09:11:00 +0100
Subject: Dear Email Owner,

This is to inform you that you have been selected for a prize of a
brand new 2021 BMW X6 and an ATM MASTER CARD of Three Million Five
Hundred Thousand United State Dollars ($3,500,000.00) from the
international balloting programs held on the 2nd section in the UNITED
STATE OF AMERICA.Description of prize vehicle;
The X6 comes with BMW's Drive infotainment system, satellite radio,
Bluetooth, a USB port and a 10-year subscription to BMW Assist eCall,
which can automatically notify first responders after a collision. For
2021, the X6 comes standard with enhanced USB and Bluetooth features,
including an additional microphone, Bluetooth sync for a second
phone,library browsing via Bluetooth, voice control for contacts and
music and a Mobile Office system. Available features include leather
seats, a surround-view camera system, navigation, a Harman Kardon
surround-sound audio system, a head-up display, a panoramic moonroof,
front and rear parking sensors, blind spot monitoring, active park
assist and lane departure warning. The Drive infotainment system takes
a bit of getting used to, but is fairly straightforward and works
well, reviewers agree.

The audio and climate controls are also clearly labeled and easy to
reach. 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 in which you were selected. However, no tickets were sold but
all email addresses were assigned to different ticket numbers for
representation and privacy.

The BMW Lottery is approved by the United States 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. Bernard Solicitor
Email: bmwlotterydept1@aol.com

Contact him by providing him with your secret pin code Number
BMW:245125HGDY03/23. You are also advised to provide him with the
under listed information as soon as possible:

1. Name In Full:
2. Residential:
3. Nationality:
4. Age:
5. Sex:
6. Occupation:
7. Direct Phone:
8. Present Country:
9. Email address:
10. pin code Number BMW:

We have to deliver your car and the check to your doorstep.But you
have to pay a fee for the delivery which is called a delivery process
file charge fee it will only cost you the sum of $100 united state
dollars and you have to go buy $100 usd iTunes card, Apple card or
Steam wallet card or google play card and send the copy of the iTunes
card or Steam card here immediately, And we commence our delivery
immediately we confirm your $100usd gift card payment in our office.

Please provide him with the above listed details and required fee
$100usd 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.

MRS. KATTY SMITH
THE DIRECTOR PROMOTIONS

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam