$10.5 Million Shell Oil Promo 419 Scam

$10.5 Million Shell Oil Promo 419 Scam

From the spam traps, currently sent out from a Gmail address:

HEAD OFFICE ADDRESS: PLOT 33, ABUBAKAR TAFAWA BALEWA WAY. CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, CADASTRAL ZONE, ABUJA, FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, NIGERIA. EMAIL: [snip]@gmail.com Cell Phone No: +[snip]

DEAR CUSTOMER,

How are you today? I am Dr. Emeka Emuwa, Director/Chief Executive Of Union Bank PLC, I am delighted to inform you that this panel which just concluded it’s seating today in Abuja just released your name among the beneficiaries that has not received their payment, and this time it has been approved to pay you via Diplomatic cash delivery or through newly introduced ATM Master Card method, therefore indicate your choice of receiving.

we have been mandated to pay you the sum of $10.5million from international gaming board, which is your won prize money from Shell oil promo that you won in the past 3years but fail to redeem it (your prize money).

Warning: This will be the last time we will contact you in regards to this transaction and you are hereby given 7 working days to claim your won prize failure to claim your prize within the stipulated time will amount to cancellation of your prize.

Kindly re-confirm to me the followings: 1) Your full name. 2) Phone, fax and mobile #. 3) Company name, position and address. 4) Profession, age and marital status.

With regards to your fund you are advised to follow-up instructions only from this office, Your Reference Number (UNION/IRD/OIL/SHELL/097/2014) any mail or faxes with out your Payment Reference Number (DISREGARD IT).

I waiting to read from you as urgency required

Best regards

Mr. Emeka Emuwa Group Managing Director Chief Executive Officer

This is, of course, a 419 scam and should be ignored (along with some of the slightly modified variants doing the rounds over the weekend).

Note that the name they’re using to sign off with is a real person, in an attempt to bump up the authenticity quota. Despite this, there’s nothing genuine about the offer of large sums of cash and can safely be discarded.

Here’s some tips for avoiding 419 scams, along with information on what to look out for.

“If it sounds to good to be true…”

Christopher Boyd

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Christopher Boyd

Former Director of Research at FaceTime Security Labs. He has a very particular set of skills. Skills that make him a nightmare for threats like you.