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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• 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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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)
• 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.
  • acct_dept@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: SHELL INTERNATIONAL UK <acct_dept@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:42:53 -0400
Subject: Congratulations!!!

 

 

ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC.
SHELL GROUP INTERNATIONAL UK.
Shell Centre London
SE1 7NA.
(Registration 70339411).
REGISTERED UNDER THE DATA PROTECTION ACT.
REF NO: HLP/200-26937
BATCH: 2008MJL-01

Attention: Winner,

We wish to heartily congratulate you on your emergence as a 2008 SHELL
GROUP AWARDS-INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS winner.
Your email which drew the winning number 89,17,08,12,56, of our yearly cash give away
Promotions, was selected via our Random Computer Selection System
(RCSS) and attached to file reference number (HLP/200-26937).
We write to hereby inform you that a prize of GBP 2.500,000.00 Pounds
Sterling is pending your redemption.
The verification department has already proceeded with the
verification process of your winnings. We would instruct you on how to
receive
your prize money as soon as your claims have been verified.
To claim your prize, you are to contact our paying bank account department,
( coupled with your file reference number
HLP/200-26937 and your complete informations)
EMAIL: acct_dept@hotmail.com
Do endeavour to send the following information required for
verification:
1. Full names..................
2. Residential address.......
3. Phone number..............
4. Fax number................
5. Occupation................
6. Sex................ ......
7. Age.......................
8. Nationality...............
9. Present Country............
10.Next of kin name/address:
11. Email Address....
Congratulations once again.
Sincerely,
Shell Group International.
United Kingdom.
*********************************************************************************
CONFIDENTIAL NOTICE: This email message, including any attachments, is
intended only for the use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain
information that is privileged, confidential and prohibited from
unauthorized disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended
recipient of this message, any dissemination, distribution or copying
of this message is strictly prohibited. If you received this message
in error, please notify the sender by reply email and destroy all
copies of the original message.
**********************************************************************************
Copyright © 2008 the Shell Group Awards International.
All rights reserved. Terms of Service - Guidelines

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam