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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: "SHELL FOUNDATION UK" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info@shellfoundation-online.com>
Date: Fri, 9 Apr 2010 10:36:11 +0100
Subject: NOTIFICATION FOR CASH GRANT AWARD!

SHELL FOUNDATION
Shell Centre,London SE1 7NA UK.

Dear:Beneficiary,

To celebrate our 9th anniversary,you were chosen by the board of
trustees of Shell Foundation as one of the final recipients worldwide
to receive cash Grant of $2,000,000.00 USD. The Foundation was established
in the year 2000 by Shell Multi-Million Groups and is now supported by the
United Nations(UN).

The Grant was based on the random selection exercises of database of
over 1 million E-mail addresses on internet websites worldwide,and the
globe divided into Zones. You are hereby informed that yours falls to
our African Zone,hence you are to paid by our African Zonal Centre.

For claims,you are to directly contact our assigned Finance Manager in our
African Zonal Centre,quoting your Qualification No:(UK-222-6747,AF-900-56).

****************************************
FINANCE MANAGER:
Name: Rev. Chris Gordon
Phone: +2347025976841
E-mail: info@shellfoundation-online.com
****************************************
Furthermore,below is the Verification Form you are to fill when contacting
the Executive Secretary.

1.FULL NAMES:_______________
2.ADDRESS:__________________
3.SEX:______________________
4.AGE:______________________
5.MARITAL STATUS:___________
6.OCCUPATION:_______________
7.TELEPHONE NUMBER:_________
8.CITY:/COUNTRY:____________
9.WINNING ZONE:_____________

NOTE: You are to indicate your prefered choice of payment as stated below.
1. Payment by Bank Transfer:
2. Payment by Certified Cheque:

Be advised to maintain the strictest level of confidentiality until the end
of proceedings to circumvent problems associated with fraudulent claims.

On behalf of the Board kindly accept our warmest congratulations.

Mrs. Elizabeth Dickson
GRANT CO-ORDINATOR.

Anti-fraud resources: