419 scam: LISA PEARCE <pearce.35@osu.edu> =?iso-8859-1?Q?Good_News_your_email_won

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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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "overseas claims unit" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
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.
- +447031934861 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: shellworldwidegrant@informaticos.com
Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 01:49:53 -0700
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Good_News_your_email_won_=A3691=2C252?=

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners=3CBR=3E= International programs held on the 20TH May=2C2009=2E Your E-mail addres= s attached=3CBR=3Eto ticket number 56475612545-187 with serial number 53= 68/03=2Cbatch=3CBR=3Enumber151085135=2Clottery ref number UK/9420X2/70 a= nd drew lucky numbers 4516 19=3CBR=3E21 4920 which consequently won in t= he1st category=2C You have therefore been=3CBR=3Eapproved to claim a tot= al sum of =A3691=2C252 (Six hundred and ninety one=3CBR=3Ethousand=2C tw= o hundred and fifty two pounds sterling)in cash credited to file=3CBR=3E= KTU/9023118308/07=2EThis is from a total cash prize of =A32=2C073=2C756 = (Two million=2C=3CBR=3Eseventy three thousand=2Cseven hundred and fifty = six pounds sterling)=2C=3CBR=3ECONGRATULATIONS!!!=3CBR=3E=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3CBR=3ERemittance Department Director=2C=3CBR=3EOVERSEAS CLAIMS UNIT=2E= United Kingdom Lottery Fiduciary Contact Person=3A Rev Paul=3CBR=3ECole=3C= BR=3EEmail=3Ashell=5Fworldwide01=40hotmail=2Ecom=3CBR=3EEmail=3Ashellwor= ldwidegrant=40informaticos=2Ecom=3CBR=3ETEL=3A+447031934861=3CBR=3EFAX=2E= +447006048978=3CBR=3E=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3CBR=3EMrs=2E Calister Green=2E!=3C= BR=3EThe Shell Petroleum National! Lottery=3CBR=3E=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam