419 scam: THE BMW LOTTO DEPARTMENT<info@usa.org> ATTENTION: DEAR 2015/2016 BMW WINNER

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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "hundred thousand united state dollars" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
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.
- bmwlottodepartment@email.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: THE BMW LOTTO DEPARTMENT<info@usa.org>
Reply-To: bmwlottodepartment@email.com
Date: 19 Feb 2017 11:28:38 +0000
Subject: ATTENTION: DEAR 2015/2016 BMW WINNER

BMW LOTTERY DEPARTMENT
5070 WILSHIRE BLVD
LOS ANGELES. CA 90036
NEIGHORHOOD: MID WILSHIRE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Dear BMW Enthusiast,

This is to inform you that you have been selected for a prize of
a brand new 2015/2016 Model BMW 7 Series Car, Cash prize
Certified Check of 500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand United State
Dollars) and a Apple Laptop from the international balloting
programs held on the 2nd section in the UNITED STATE OF AMERICA.

Description of prize vehicle;
Model: 760Li
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.

FIDUCIARY CLAIMS AGENT.
Name: Mr. Can Garcia
Email: bmwlottodepartment@email.com

Contact him by providing him with your secret pin code
BMW:6743222009/FQ13. As the subject of your email for swift
response and you are also advised to provide him with the under
listed information as soon as possible for your claim:

* Name in full.
* Address.
* Nationality.
* Age.
* Occupation.
* Phone.
* Fax #.
* Present Country.
* Email address.
* Batch Number BMW:6743222009/FQ13

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:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam