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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "BMW LOTTERY" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bmwfiduciaryagents@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2015 16:52:49 +0200
Subject: U.S BMW LOTTERY 2015

Reference Number BMW:6743222009/14
THE LOTTERY DEPARTMENT BMW
Automobiles United States.
 
Dear BMW Enthusiast,
 
This is to inform you that you have been selected as a winner for a cash prize Certified Check of 500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars) and a brand new BMW 5 Series Car from International programs held on the 5th of January 2015 in United State..
 
Description of prize vehicle;
Model: 530iA
Color (exterior): Metallic Silver
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 fiduciary claims department for more information as regards procedures to claim your prize.
 
USA BMW LOTTERY DEPARTMENT
Name:JAMES SPLIFF     
Email: bmwfiduciaryagents@gmail.com
 
Contact him by providing him with your secret pin code Number BMW: 6743222009/14. You are also advised to provide to him with the under listed information as soon as possible:
 
* Name in full.
* Address.
* Nationality.
* Age.
* Occupation.
* Phone/Fax.
* Present Country.
* Email address.
* pin code Number BMW:6743222009/14
 
THE DIRECTOR PROMOTIONS
BMW LOTTERY DEPARTMENT
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
***********************************************************************************************************************************
NOTE: If you received this message in your SPAM/BULK folder , that is because of the restrictions implemented by your Internet Service Provider, we (BMW) urge you to treat it genuinely and kindly move it to your inbox.
 

Anti-fraud resources: