419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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:
- "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "million pounds" (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)
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.
- +447024093760 (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.
- bmwsecurityclaimsdept09@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: BMW FR V CAR LOTTERY 2010 <chrisngoka080@gmail.com>
Reply-To: bmwsecurityclaimsdept09@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2010 02:02:47 -0800 (PST)
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?LUCKY_EMAIL=28YOU_HAVE_WON_THE_BMW_2010_CAR_LOTTERY_PRIZE_?=
=?iso-8859-1?Q?OF_=A31=2C000=2C000=2E00_POUNDS=29?=

BMW CAR
LOTTERY

ELLESFIELD AVENUE
BRACKNELL RG12 8TA,
UNITED
KINGDOM.

AWARD NOTIFICATION

BMW CAR FR V 2010

CONGRATULATIONS!

We are pleased to inform you of the release
of the long awaited results of the New Year 2010 BMW CAR INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION
PROGRAM.You were entered as dependent client with Reference Serial Number:
K44CBL475 and Batch number:HDC-451-5754-14BL.Your email address attached to the
Ticket Number: 01225498775436 that drew the Lucky Winning
Numbers (1-5-6-8-7-4-5-2) which consequently won the
Lottery in the 2nd category, in four parts.

You have been approved for a
payment of £1,000 000.00 ( One Million Great British Pounds
Sterling ) in cash credited to file Reference Number: BMW/4155247787001-A.This is
from a total cash prize of Fifty Million Pounds shared among all our
International Winners in all categories.

Congratulations!!!
All
participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn
from 50,000
(Fifty thousand) names of email users around the world, as
part of our
international promotion program. Due to mixed up of some
names and addresses,
We ask that you keep this award personal, till
your claims has been processed
and your funds remitted to you. This is
a part of our security measures to avoid
double claiming or
unwarranted participants or impostor's, taking advantage
of the
situation. You are to contact your/our-accredited agent for your
claim
now.

NOTE: All correspondence must be sent to our claims
officer, Rev Jackson, fill the below information and send to Rev Jackson for the
immediate claims of your awarded prize:

1) Your full name:

2) Your
full address:

3) Sex:

4) Age:

5) Occupation:

6)
Telephone / mobile number:

7) Serial Number:

8) Batch
number:

9) Country:

10) Nationality:

Rev Frank
Jackson
BMW SECURITY CLAIMS DEPT.
Email: bmwsecurityclaimsdept09@gmail.com
Phone:
+447024093760

Best Regards,
Klaus Kibsgaard,
C.E.O BMW AWARD OFFICE.

NOTE: Staff and workers with BMW and their relatives do not participate in
this lottery program and this also includes staff in the respective paying
banks.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam