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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: "Dr. Norbert Reithofers" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <josephzrobert@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2017 01:43:20 +1000
Subject: BMW LOTTERY DEPARTMENT UNITED KINGDOM.

Automobiles United States. Reference Number: BMW:4661256703/07/16 Ticket Number: 4114553490 Batch Number: 010/112016 Lucky Number: 4133339553 Dear BMW Enthusiast, This is to inform you that you have been selected as a winner for a cash prize Certified Check of 600,000.00 (Six Hundred Thousand United State Dollars) and a brand new 2016 Model BMW 7 Series Car from International programs held on the 15th of November, 2016 in United State.. Description of prize vehicle; Model: BMW 7 series 2016 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 in United Kingdom for more information as regards procedures to claim your prize. UNITED KINGDOM BMW FIDUCIARY LOTTERY DEPARTMENT Name: Mr Robert Joseph Email: josephzrobert@yahoo.com Contact him by providing him with your secret pin code Number BMW: 4661256703/07/16,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: Dr. Norbert Reithofers. THE DIRECTOR PROMOTIONS BMW LOTTERY DEPARTMENT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

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