419 scam: Shell Promo Department <celephais@sbcglobal.net> Announcement!!!

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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:

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 great british pounds" (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)
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.
- +447010572587 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- +447010476892 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: Shell Promo Department <celephais@sbcglobal.net>
Reply-To: shell.department2009@live.com
Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 06:06:21 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Announcement!!!

Shell Petroleum Center, London,
SE17NA-United Kingdom
Tel: +447010572587
   Fax: +447010476892
  Announcement!!!

This is to inform you that have been selected for a Cash prize of 500,000.00.(Five Hundred Thousand Great British Pounds).The selection process was carried out through random selection in our computerized email selection system(ess) from a database of over 230,000 email addresses drawn from all the continents of the world.This Shell Email Promotion The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR.

To begin the processing of your prize you are to contact your claims officer through our accredited Prize Transfer agents as stated
below:

Mr.Mike Williams
Email: shell.department2010@live.com

You are also advised to provide him with the under listed information as
soon as possible:'

CLAIMS REQURIEMENTS:
1.Name in full :
2.Address :
3.Nationality :
4.Age :
5.Sex :
6.Occupation:
7.Phone/Fax:
8.Present Country:

If you do not contact your claims agent within 7 working days of this
notification,your winnings would be revoked. Winners are advised
to keep their winning details/information from the public to avoid
fraudulent claim (IMPORTANT) pending the transfer/claim by Winner.
Congratulations once again

Thanks.

Shell Mobile Promo!
(A Subsidiary of Shell Petroleum Company UK.)

Mr Mike Williams F
Promo - Manager.

                    © "Copyright 2010 Shell Petroleum-Mobile Promo All Right Reserve"
* * * * * * D I S C L A I M E R * * * * * * *
This message is confidential and intended for the named addressee(s) only. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by E-Mail return and then delete this message from your system. You should not copy or use it or disclose its contents to any other person. If any part of this message is illegible or if you suspect that the message may have been intercepted or amended, please contact the sender. We cannot accept any responsibility.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam