419 scam: PETRONAS <promo@petronas.com> PETRONAS NOTIFICATION

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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")
- "claims office" (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)
- ",500,000" (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 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.
- jeff4peter@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: PETRONAS <promo@petronas.com>
Reply-To: jeff4peter@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:29:45 -0600
Subject: PETRONAS NOTIFICATION

Petroliam Nasional Berhad(PETRONAS).
Tower 1
Petronas Twin Towers
Kuala Lumpur City Centre(KLCC)
50088 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia

PETRONAS a Leading Oil and Gas Multinational Of Choice proudly announces
to you
as one of her 25 lucky winners worldwide in it's Secured Online Promotion.

You are therefore entitled to a Total payout of TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED
THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS (,500,000.00USD) in cash in this category.

This Promotion was held at the Prestigious Petronas Twin Towers(Currently
the
Tallest Building in Malaysia) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia through a secured
automated
powered ballot where over 50,000 email addresses from all over the world
were
being collected for the draw. The purpose for this Promotion is an avenue
to
appreciate all customers who have patronized us over the years both from
Malaysia and worldwide as a whole, the promotion is also geared at
bringing
PETRONAS close to the world for advertising its exquisite brands of
products.

The following are your winning Informations to be kept confidential, your
claims
agent is the only authorised person you are required to disclose these
informations to for processing:

TICKET NUMBER ------------------60876KS652M,
WINNING NUMBERS ------------------ 85083457
RAFFLE DRAW NUMBERS ------------------1982-02
SECURITY NUMBER ------------------------- 0202.
REFERENCE NUMBER----------------- PET/43824394763/08

You being Authorised/Mandated by this notification which takes immediate
effect
to get in touch with your claims officer whom your entitlement has been
drafted
to for onward assistance and disbursement with the following informations

YOUR FULL NAME:
CONTACT ADDRESS:
PHONE NO:
OCCUPATION:
YOUR WINNING EMAIL:
NAME OF YOUR NEXT OF KIN:

==============================================================
====================================================
PRIZE RELEASE DEPARTMENT
Petroliam Nasional Berhad(PETRONAS)
Tower 1
Petronas Twin Towers
Kuala Lumpur City Centre
50088 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
EMAIL: jeff4peter@yahoo.com.hk
MR. PETER JEFFERY.
==============================================================
====================================================

All the Members and Staff Of PETRONAS congratulates you for being a winner
of
its promotion as we hope that you would take the time to Patronize us in
the
near future to have a taste of our Exquisite brands of products.

Yours Truly,
Mrs.Omo Fausty.
Online coordinator,
PETRONAS SECURED ONLINE PROMOTION,
Sweepstakes International Program.
Open 7 days 8am-11pm.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam