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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: "UNITED" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <unitedstateswinner@usa.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2012 19:10:05 +0800
Subject: Shell Petroleum Development Company(spdc)

Shell Petroleum Development Company(spdc)
P O Box 1010
California, L70 1NL UNITED State
(Customer Services)
Lottery Date:23 SEPTEMBER 2011
WINNING NOTIFICATION:
Ref.No:919347/74Congratulations9-0
Batch:3566465021-0TA/06

Att:lucky winner,
Congratulations as we happily announce to you today that the draw.Of the International E-mail Draw which is Organized by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) International program held in 2011 in WASHINGTON DC.Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: G276017-487 with Serial number 493-678 drew the lucky numbers: [ 7-28-87-65-69-73 ]The Bonus Ball [02], which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category i.e, matches 3 plus bonus. You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of US$1,500,000.00 (One Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only) credited to file nos KTU/9023118308/03. This is from a total cash prize of US$15,000,000.00 (Fifteen Million U.S Dollars) shared amongst the first Ten (10) lucky winners in this category i.e Match 4 plus bonus.

All participants for the online version were selected randomly from World Wide Web sites through computer draw system and extracted from over 100Million Email addresses of unions, associations and corporate bodies that are listed online. This promotion takes place once in a year. Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our U booklet representative office in CALIFORNIA as indicated in your play coupon. In view of this, Your US$1,500,000.00 (One Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) would be released to you by any of our payment offices here in WASHINGTON DC. Our UNITED STATE
agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact her For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential until your claim is processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize.

This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program, Be warned!! To file for your claim, please contact our claims agent with the verification form below:

Overseas Claims Unit
Shell Award Claim Agent
Name: MR MARTIN COLEMAN
WASHINGTON DC, L70 1NL UNITED State.
Email: unitedstateswinner@usa.com
KINDLY FILL THE CLAIMS VERIFICATION/PROCESSING FORM BELOW AND SEND IT TO
HIM:
============================== =======================
FULL NAMES OF BENEFICIARY:.................. .................
CONTACT ADDRESS:...................... .............................. ...
CITY/STATE:................... ..................... ................
.......
COUNTRY:........................................... ................
........
NATIONALITY:.................. .............................. ................
...
SEX:....................... AGE:.......................... ...................
..........
MARITAL STATUS: .............................. .............................
TEL NO:..........................................................

E_MAIL ADDRESS:...................... .............................. ........
NEXT OF KIN:.......................... .... .............................. ........
OCCUPATION:................... ........... .............................. ........
AMOUNT:....................... .............................. ........
WON:.......................... .............................. ............
REFERENCE NO:................ BATCH NO: .............................
LUCKY NO:.................. TICKET NO :............................. ...
SERIAL NO:................... LOTTERY DATE: ...................

Our agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact him on the email stated above. You may wish to establish contact with him via e-mail with the particulars presented above citing the batch and reference numbers to this letter. All Our winners are assured of the utmost standards of confidentiality, and press anonymity until the end of the proceedings, and beyond where they so desire. Be further advised to maintain the strictest level of confidentiality until the end of proceedings to circumvent problems associated with fraudulent claims.

This is part of our precautionary and security measures to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program. Note: That winners who are students or those below 18 Years of age are NOT allowed to participate in this Lottery programmed. You must be 20 yrs and above and a working class to be able to claim your winnings.

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR CLAIMS AGENT DIRECTLY BY

E-Mail: unitedstateswinner@usa.com
Good-luck from me and members of staff of the SHELL PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
Yours Faithfully
Grace Sanders
Coordinator SHELL OFFICE

Anti-fraud resources: