419 scam: "EXXON MOBIL MALAYSIA!" <info@zhang.org> EXXON MOBIL MALAYSIA!

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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")
- "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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
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!

Fraud email example:

From: "EXXON MOBIL MALAYSIA!" <info@zhang.org>
Reply-To: exxon2311@gsjm.net
Date: Sun, 13 Feb 2011 07:04:16 -0300
Subject: EXXON MOBIL MALAYSIA!

EXXON MOBIL MALAYSIA!
OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT/2011
Amount Won:$500,000.00 USD.
Ref No.17/324/113
Verification Number(EM-389-6373)

The Board of Directors, Members and staff of EXXON MOBIL ONLINE AWARD TEAM
wish to formally inform and congratulate you on the result of the EXXON MOBIL
AWARD 2011,which was conducted on TUESDAY 1st Of February 2011 from an
exclusive list of 1,000.000 email addresses of individual and corporate
bodies selected by an advanced automated random computer ballot system from
the internet.Your e-mail address emerged as a Winner in the category "A".

You are therefore entitled to receive a cash prize of $500,000.00. (Five
Hundred,Thousand United State Dollars) To file in for the processing of your
prize winnings, you are advised to contact our Certified and Accredited
claims agent for category "A" winners with the information below:

*************************************
Name:MR.Abidin Ahmad
Tel :+60143416195
:+60103771756
e-MAIL:exxon2311@gsjm.net
*************************************

You are advice to provide him with the following information for vetting
process which is a standard practice just to ensure that we are dealing with
the right individual.

CLAIMS RELEASE VERIFICATION FORM
1. Full Names: ______________________________
2. Marital Status: __________________________
3. Sex: ________________ Age: _______________
4. Occupation: ______________________________
5. Full Address: ____________________________
6. Nationality: _____________________________
7. Country of Residence: ____________________
8. Tel Number: _________ Mobile: ____________
9. Winning Email:_____________________________
Verification Number:_________________________

NOTE: Ensure to quote your Reference Numbers and Verification Number in your
communication with your claims agent. All winnings must be Claimed not later
than seven working days,thereafter unclaimed funds would be included in the
next stake.

Sincerely Yours,

Mrs.Nadia Mohd Raffik
Award Presenter/ Coordinator.
Exxon Mobil Malaysia.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam