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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "Lottery 2011" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <shell.lottoagent@superposta.com>
Date: Thu, 15 Dec 2011 05:04:17 -0500
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOU HAVE WON 1.3 MILLION USD.

                                     Shell Lottery Promo
                    Shell Petroleum Development Company
REF: 435062725
BATCH: 7050470902/189
WINNING NO: GB8101/LPRC
DATE: 2011 NATIONAL LOTTERY AWARD
  
Dear Sir/Madam,
We are delighted to inform you of your prize which
Was released on the 1st of DECEMBER 2011, from the
SHELL LOTTERY PROMO, which is fully based on an electronic
selection of winners using their e-mail addresses from some
Sites.
Your email address was attached to:
Ticket number; 4700172507056490102
Serial number 7741134002
This batch draws the lucky numbers as follows 5-13-33-37-42 and
bonus number 17,which consequently won the lottery in
the second category.
You hereby have been approved a lump sum pay of US$1.3 MILLION
(ONE MILLION AND THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS) in cash credit
file ref: ILP/HW 47509/09 from the total cash prize shared
Amongst eight lucky winners in this category.
All participants were selected through a computer balloting
System drawn form Nine hundred thousand E-mail addresses from
Canada, Australia, United States, Asia, Europe, Middle East,
Africa and Oceania as part of our international promotion
program which is conducted annually.
Furthermore, your details (e-mail address) falls within our
European representative office in Amsterdam, Holland as
Indicated in your play coupon and your prize of US$1.3 MILLION
Will be released to you from this regional branch office in
NIGERIA. We hope that with part of your prize, you
will participate in our end of year high stakes for
US$1.3 Billion international draw.
HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE:
Simply contact our fiduciary agent,
AGENT REV.JERRY MORGAN to file
for your claim ..
FUND RELEASE FORM:
1. FULL NAME...............
2. YOUR AGE.................
3. MARRIAGE STATUS.............
4: YOU’RE TELEPHONE NO................
5. OCCUPATION.................
6. COUNTRY....................
Note: All winnings MUST be claimed before the 31ST of
DECEMBER 2011; otherwise all funds will be returned
as Unclaimed and eventually donated to charity
Organizations.
PLEASE CONTACT AGENT:
REV.JERRY MORGAN,
so that they will tell you of
how you will receive your winning prize.
CLAIM AGENT: REV.JERRY MORGAN
Email: shell.lottoagent@superposta.com
Best Regards
(Coordinator)
Copyright © 1994-2011 Shell Petroleum Development Company!
 

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