419 scam: "SHELL PETROLEUM COMPANY"<info@shelloilpromo.co.uk> 2011 SHELL ONLINE PROMOTION

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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")
- ",000,000" (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 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.
- shelloilpromo2011@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "SHELL PETROLEUM COMPANY" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <shelloilpromo2011@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Fri, 7 Oct 2011 23:06:12 +0400
Subject: 2011 SHELL ONLINE PROMOTION

SHELL PETROLEUM COMPANY
SHELL CENTER. LONDON
SE1 7NA UNITED KINGDOM

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the first online promotion conducted by Shell Petroleum Development Company, your email was among the 30 Lucky winners who won ?450,000(Four Hundred And Fifty Thousand pounds sterling) each on the2011 SHELL ONLINE PROMOTION.

You were entered as an independent candidate and your email address was attached to Verification Number (CN-435-663-6) and Batch Number (12/25/0034)The online draws was conducted by a random selection of email addresses from an exclusive list of 100,000,000 E-mail addresses of individuals and mobile phone users picked by an advanced automated random computer search from the internet.

However, no tickets were sold but all email addresses were assigned to different ticket numbers for representation and privacy.

The selection process was carried out through random selection in our computerized email selection machine (TOPAZ) from a database of over 250,000,000 email addresses drawn from all the continents of the world. This Lottery is approved by the British Gambling Board and also licensed by the International Association of Gambling Regulators (IAGR). This lottery is the 1st of its kind and we intend to sensitize the public.

In order to claim your ?450,000(Four Hundred And Fifty Thousand pounds sterling) prize winning, which has been deposited in a designated bank. However, You will have to fill the form below and send it to the Promotion manager of 2011 SHELL ONLINE PROMOTION for verification and then you will be
directed on how you can claim your winning funds:
================
NAME:
AGE:
SEX:
ADDRESS:
PHONE:
OCCUPATION:
STATE.
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY.
Winning Email Address:
======================

Please you are advised to complete the form and send it immediately to our Promotion manager through email for prompt collection of your winning fund. (CONTACT CLAIMS AGENT)

Name: MR. DOUGLAS BILL
Email: shelloilpromo2011@yahoo.co.jp

You are to keep all Shell lottery information away from the general public especially your Verification Number and Batch Number. (This is important as a case of double claims will not be entertained)
NOTICE: Verification claims with error or any misinformation as regards filling for claims payment will be dishonored and disqualified as abuse to our Policy Terms and Services. This is in accordance with section 13(1) (n) of the National Gambling Act as adopted in 1993 and amended on 3rd July 1996 by the
constitutional assembly. Be thus informed *Staff of Shell Companies Worldwide are not to partake in this Lottery.

Accept my hearty congratulations once again!

Yours faithfully,
MR BARRY MOORE.
(Online Coordinator)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam