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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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.

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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "million united states 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)
• 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.
  • +2348038788197 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Cynthia Raman" <cynthiaraman@mobimail.mn>
Reply-To: davidwalcott1951@walla.com
Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2008 05:18:33 -0700
Subject: Dear Shell Award Winner


[image: Shell logo]Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria


===============================================================================================
Award Department, Shell Petroleum Development Comapny of Nigeria
Shell Industrial Area, Rumobiakani, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Shell Award Winner,

Following the results of our annual Award/Grant draws concluded this month,
we are pleased to inform you, that your e-mail address emerged as a lucky
winner in the 2008 Shell Award and you have been approved of a lump sum of
$3 Million United States Dollars attached to Pin SPDC-SA which should be
paid to you in full.

This is an annual award which is conducted by Shell Nigeria as part of their
contribution to mankind and this is funded from their yearly profit from the
Nigerian Oil sector.

You have been assigned to a claims agent and hereby advised to contact him
for immediate acquaintance with guidelines for the claim and subsequent
payment of your prize award.

Kindly find his contact details below.

Name of Agent: Reverend Philip Durund
E-mail:
shellgrant@live.com<http://uk.mc283.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=shellplc@live.com>
Tel: +234 803 878 8197

Keep your winning information confidential to avoid double claim.

Accept our sincere congratulations.

Regards,
Mrs. Cynthia Raman
(Prize Administrator)

********************************************************************************************************
Copyright (c) 1999-2008 Shell Development Petroleum Company. All rights
reserved. E&OE. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium
without the expressed written permission of Primetime Foundation is
prohibited.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam