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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
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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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:
  • "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 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.
  • agnt.markwaters@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MALAYSIA SHELL PROMO"<malaysia_p@shell.com.my>
Reply-To: <agnt.markwaters@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Oct 2001 22:34:49 +0100
Subject: GREETINGS, FROM MALAYSIA SHELL PROMO

SHELL PETROLEUM (MALAYSIA) LTD (993418-M)
SHELL OFFICE, JALAN SHELL 981100 LUTONG
SARAWAK

 
Greetings,From Shell Petroleum!!!!!
 
You have just been awarded the sum of $1,Million United States Dollars Only which was won by your E-MAIL Address in our Shell Petroleum Lottery Promotions here in
Malaysia.Shell Petroleum Lottery Promotions is part of our social responsility in line with
with our company act as stated in the company act law.

To begin your claim please contact our licensed and accredited agent assigned to you.
[INTERNATIONAL VERIFICATION DEPARTMENT MANAGER]
Name: Mr. Mark Waters
Email : agnt.markwaters@hotmail.com

Do email the above Claims Administrator, with the claims requirements below.To avoid unnecessary delay.They are needed to proceed.

Claims Requirements:
First Name:_______________Last/Family Name:__________________

Sex:_______________Age:_______Date of Birth:___________________

Occupation:_______________________Nationality:_________________

Address:______________________________Marital Status:____________

City:_____________State:________________ Zip/Postal Code:___________

Country:______________________Cell Phone:____________________

Fax:________________E-mail:________________________________

 
PAYMENT OF PRIZE AND CLAIM
You are to contact your Claims Agent with immediate effect to faciliate the protocol of your winning prize before the date of Claim,Winners Shall be paid in accordance with his/her Settlement Centre, Prize must be claimed not later than 15 days from date of Draw Notification after the Draw date in which Prize has won. Any prize not claimed within this period will be forfeited.

 
Congratulations!!!

Sincerely,
Mrs Joy Lowe(Secretary)
Shell Corporation.All rights reserved

THIS E-MAIL IS CONFIDENTIAL.If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify us by return e-mail and delete the document. If you are not the intended recipient you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful.Microsoft is not liable for the proper and complete transmission of the information contained in this communication or for any delay in its receipt.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam