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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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.
• 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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447045715171 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • claimagentmichealsmith01@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: augustine okafor <austinoems@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2007 14:00:00 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: confirmation



PLease help me check this information if it is true or not.

this was sent to me yesterday.

THE BMW LOTTERY DEPARTMENT Automobiles
22 Garden Close, Stamford, Lincs, PE9 2YP, London
United Kingdom
Dear Winner,
This is to inform you that you have been selected as a winner for a
cash prize of £500,000.00 (five hundred thousand Great British Pounds)
and a brand new BMW 5 Series Car from International programs held on the
10th of March 2007 in London Uk.
Description of prize vehicle;
Year: 2006
Model: 530iA
Color (exterior/interior): Black Sapphire Metallic/Black Leather
Mileage: 5
Transmission: Automatic 6 Speed
Options: Cold weather package, premium package, fold down rear seats
w/ski bag, am fm stereo with single in dash compact disc player.
The selection process was carried out through random selection in our
computerized email selection ballot system from a database of over
250,000 email addresses drawn from all the continents of the world which
yours and nine others were selected as the winners.

The BMW Lottery is approved by the British 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 fiduaciary
claims department for more infomation as regards procedures to claim
your prize.
================================================================
Mr.Micheal Smith
Phone number:+447045715171
+447024053013
Email: claimagentmichealsmith01@yahoo.co.uk
================================================================
Contact him by please providing him with your Ticket number:
5647600545188 and serial number: BMWP/5565434509063.You are also advised to
provide him with the under listed informations as soon as possible:
1.Name (in full):
2.Address:
3.Nationality:
4.Age:
5.Occupation:
6.Phone/Fax:
7.Country of Residence:
8.Short comment on your occupation. [optional]:
9.Fax [optional]:
10.Email address:
11.Annual income:
==================================================================
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.
Mr. Micheal smith
THE DIRECTOR PROMOTIONS
BMW LOTTERY DEPARTMENT
UNITED KINGDOM

THE BMW INTERNATIONAL AWARENESS PROMOTION
COPYRIGHT ©2006. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED






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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam