419 scam: "SHELL SOUTH AFRICA(PTY)" <shelinfoshell@aim.com> Shell Email Computer Sweeptakes Promo 2010.BukPŒë¸"

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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.
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.
- +27785384213 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- avram.grant@execs.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "SHELL SOUTH AFRICA(PTY)" <shelinfoshell@aim.com>
Reply-To: shell.pty@safrica.com
Date: Mon, 01 Nov 2010 21:49:02 -0300
Subject: Shell Email Computer Sweeptakes Promo 2010.

South Africa Shell National Promo,
Johannesburg,South Africa.
22nd October,2010.
****************************
Congratulations as we announce to you that your email has been shortlisted
winner of R950,000(Nine Hundred And Fifty Thousand South African Rand)in the
South Africa SHELL PETROLEUM EMAIL INTERNATIONAL AWARD 2010 promotions program
held this last quater of year 2010.NOTE:To file for your claim, please contact
our South Africa Regional Shell coperate Office(Claim Department via
informations below with the
requested informations.

Shell Petroleum Claim's Department
Mr Avram Grant(Claim Promo Officer)
Email:avram.grant@execs.com
Contact Direct Line:+27-78-538-4213
**************************************************
Find below your promotion date, Reference and Batch numbers. Remember to quote
these numbers in your correspondence to our claim's department.
**************************************************
(1) Ref No.SH/037/11/06/SA
(2) Batch No: JBSH/10/JB/SA
(3) Lucky No: 03-13-31.54-123
(4) Serial No: SHPTL/82536
(5) PROMOTION DATE: 22nd October,2010.
**************************************************

VERIFICATION AND FUNDS RELEASE FORM.
1. Full Name:..............
2. Address....................
3. Occupation:..............
4. Nationality...............
5. Tel No........................
6.Date Of Birth....................

Once again on behalf of all our staff and Managements we say CONGRATULATIONS!

Sincerely,
South Africa Shell Promotion Award Team,
Johannesburg,South Africa.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam