419 scam: Royal Dutch Shell <info@uknationallottery.org> Royal Dutch Shell's Gratitude Award(REF NO: HLP/200-26937)

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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:

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:
- "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.
- mr.leechan001@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: Royal Dutch Shell <info@uknationallottery.org>
Reply-To: mr.leechan002@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2010 08:37:22 -0600
Subject: Royal Dutch Shell's Gratitude Award(REF NO: HLP/200-26937)

ROYAL DUTCH SHELL .
SPDC Service Centre
Rowlandsway House
Rowlandsway
Wythenshawe
Manchester
M22 5SB
London

REGISTERED UNDER THE DATA PROTECTION ACT.

REF NO: HLP/200-26937
BATCH: 2009MJL-01
SERVICE TO HUMANITY
Attention: Winner,

We wish to heartily congratulate you on your emergence as a 2010 Royal Dutch Shell AWARDS-INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS winner. Your email which drew the winning number, 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 500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Great Britain Pounds Sterling) awaits you for 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. Your prize is currently lodged in a suspense account pending your activation of an operative account with the paying bank as shown below:

To Proceed you are advised to contact our paying bank or personnel on the below address
*Name of Winner:
*Address:
*City/State:
*Email Address:
*Phone no/Mobile :
*Occupation:
Maritial Status:
*Age:

Kindest Regards,
Mr. Lee chan
E-mail: mr.leechan001@gmail.com
Shell Petroleum Dev. Co.
United Kingdom .
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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 © 2009 the Shell Oil Awards International.
All rights reserved. Terms of Service - Guidelines.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam