419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
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.
- +447045711321 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
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.
- write2campbelljohn@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: SHELL FOUNDATION LOTTERY PROMO <advert-shellfoundationpromo@post.com>
Reply-To: write2campbelljohn@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 10 Sep 2010 16:03:05 -0700
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOUR EMAIL-ID HAS WON IN THE SHELL FOUNDATION
LOTTERY

SHELL OIL COMPANY LONDON COMPANY. MAY FAIR HOUSE, 14-18 HEDDON STREET, MAYFAIR, LONDON, W1B 4DA Date: 10/9/2010 Ref: 475061727 Batch:7056490934/2007 Winning no: GB8701/LPRC: Dear Donation Beneficiary, NOTIFICATION OF YOUR WINNING The Shell Foundation LONDON,UK, is glad to notify you that you have been chosen by the board of trustees as one of the final recipients of a cash Grant/Donation for your own personal, educational, and business development. The Shell Foundation LONDON,UK,was established in the year 2000 by the Shell Multi-Million Groups and is now supported by the United Nations (UN),European Union (EU), and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). To celebrate the 10th anniversary program, the Shell Foundation LONDON,UK in conjunction with other relevant bodies is giving out a yearly donation of £16,000,000 GB Pounds (Sixteen Million Great Britain Pounds Starlings ) to 40 lucky recipients. These specific Donations/Grants will be awarded to recipients worldwide; in different categories for their personal business development and enhancement of their educational plans. Kindly note that you will only be chosen to receive the donation once, which means that subsequent yearly donation will not get to you again. You were selected among the lucky recipients to receive the award sum of £400,000.00 GB Pounds ( Four Hundred Thousand Great Britain Pounds Starlings) as charity donations/aid from the Shell Foundation LONDON,UK in accordance with the enabling act of Parliament. NOTE To file for your claim . Please quote your reference, batch and winning number which can be found on the top left corner of this notification as well as your full name, address and telephone number to help locate your file easily. For security reasons, we advice all winners to keep this information confidential from the public until your claim is processed and your prize released to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted taking advantage of this programme by non-participant or unofficial personnel. HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE: Simply contact our fiducial agent, AGENT CAMPBELL JOHN AT:- write2campbelljohn@gmail.com CONTACT NUMBER:+44-704-571-1321 All information is strictly confidential and will only be used for the purpose to which it is been requested. Finally, all funds should be claimed by their respective beneficiaries, not later than 21 days after notification. Failure to do so will result to outright cancellation. On behalf of the Board kindly, accept our warmest congratulations. ANY BREACH OF CONFIDENTIALITY ON THE PART OF THE WINNERS WILL RESULT TO DISQUALIFICATION. Regards. Sir Allan Buffet Grants Co-ordinator

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam