419 scam: "Thomson Alan"<info@bmw.co.uk> BMW GROUP!

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "22 garden close, stamford" (address often used in fake lottery scams)
- "the bmw automobile company" (no such lottery exists)
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "hundred thousand great british 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 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.
- thomson_alan@hotmail.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Thomson Alan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <thomson_alan@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 5 Jul 2012 14:51:46 +0100
Subject: BMW GROUP!

THE INTERNATIONAL AWARENESS
PROMOTION DEPARTMENT OF
THE BMW AUTOMOBILE COMPANY.
22 Garden Close, Stamford,
Lincs, PE9 2YP, London
United Kingdom.

The Board of Directors, members of staff and the International Awareness Promotion Department of the BMW Automobile Company, wishes to congratulate you on your success as one of our SIX(6) STAR PRIZE WINNER in this years' BMW Automobile International Awareness Promotion (IAP) 2012, in London, UK.

This makes you a proud owner of a brand new BMW 5 Series, M Sport Saloon car and cash prize of GBP500, 000.00 GBP Five Hundred Thousand Great British pounds).

Note: You are to keep your winnings and the following below strictly Confidential so as to avoid double claims and complications arising from double claims:

Reference Number: BMW:2551256003/23
Ticket number: 5647600545188
Serial number: BMWP/556543450906

For you to collect your prizes, kindly fill the verification form below and send it to the BMW Claims Manager, Dr. Thomson Alan of our claims office through email, stating your receipt of this notification. He has been mandated to offer you assistance and facilitate the urgent delivery of your prizes.

Dr. Thomson Alan

Email: thomson_alan@hotmail.co.uk

VERIFICATION FORM:
FULL NAMES:
ADDRESS:
CITY:
STATE:
ZIP:
MOBILE PHONE:
FAX:
COUNTRY:
SEX:
AGE:
MARITAL STATUS:
OCCUPATION:
E-MAIL ADDRESS:
NATIONALITY:

Congratulations once more, and keep trusting BMW Automobile for top quality automobiles.
ENGR.LLOYD BRADFORD
DIRECTOR OF PROMOTIONS,
INTERNATIONAL AWARENESS PROMOTIONS,
BMW AUTOMOBILE.
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM.

Note: All entries should be sent to: thomson_alan@hotmail.co.uk
*****************************************************************************
This Notification MUST remain confidential until your funds is successfully handed over to you to avoid disqualification that may arise from double claim. You may also receive similar e-mails from people portraying our image. This is solely to collect your personal information from you and lay claim over your winning. In the event you receive any e-mail similar to this notification letter we have emailed you, kindly delete it from your mail box and make no further correspondence to such persons or body. BMW GROUP shall not be held responsible for any loss of fund arising from the above mentioned.
******************************************************************************

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam