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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: "Mrs Cythia Handle (BMW LOTTERY)" <bmw@fhcatx.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: bmwclaimsdpt2010@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 28 Dec 2010 15:13:54 -0600 (CST)
Subject: Hello.......... Congratulations


*********** We are happy to announce that you are one of our Lucky Star
Prize Winner in this months edition of the BMW International Online
Promotion held on 23rd December 2010 in England.This makes you a proud
owner of a Brand New BMW 5 series Car and a cash amount of Nine Hundred
And Fifty thousand Great British Pounds.To claim your prize Contact the
claim office on the email below
***********

(Email: bmwclaimsdept211@gmail.com )***********
Best Regards,
Mrs Cythia Handle

Anti-fraud resources: