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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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.

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.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "tax clearance" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "cashier's check" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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.
  • +447024077170 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +447024027059 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • mastercard_lottery07@excite.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: personalsoft@mchsi.com (Mr. Macwell Hunt )
Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2007 14:35:55 +0000
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS FROM MASTERCARD

MasterCard® / Microsoft® INTERNATIONAL MEGA JACKPOT
BARCLAYS BANK PLATINUM VISA CARD
BARCLAYS PREMIERSHIP
MICROSOFT OFFICE, UNITED KINGDOM
PRESENT DIRECTOR; MR. Dennes Vandergate
TEL: 44-702-402-7059 or +44-702-407-7170
FAX: 44-702-408-3565 or +44-702-408-3565
REGISTRATION NO: 9027640
INSURANCE NO: MSTC006
TAX CLEARANCE NO: 28456
AMOUNT WON: £6,600,000.00

Finally,this email address has brought you an unexpected luck, please read
through this message. Your e-mail address was selected and confirmed by our co-
sponsor Microsoft International, through their latest internet software.

You are therefore been approved by MasterCard Int. /Microsoft UK the sum of
£6,600,000.00 (SIX MILLION, SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS). Equivalent to
$11,064,000 USD. (Eleven Million, sixty four thousand US Dollars). In cash,
Credited to a valid cashier's check, With winning Reg. No. MCIMJ: 5148/4178.

Be informed that your prize has been insured and ready for pay out. All the
08 winners were selected through the Microsoft computer ballot system (MCBS)
drawn from each continent and from each ISP, by the most powerful Microsoft
Software Incorporation, as part of our International "E-MAIL" Promotions
Program, to promote the use of MasterCard’s and the use of Microsoft Offices
all over the World. Further more, to promote the use of E-mails and cards for
online payments.

Send the claims requirements to your claims administrator for further
instructions see two email addresses below.

Claims Requirements:
1. Full Name:.....................................
2. Address:.......................................
3. Nationality:...................................
4. Age:.......... Date of Birth:.................
5. Occupation:....................................
6. Phone:................Fax:.....................
7. State of Origin:...........Country:............

MasterCard® / Microsoft® Claims Administrator
Name: Mr. Diamond Richmond
E-mail: mastercard_lottery07@excite.com

EXT 009 PROCEEDURES / RIGHTS AND PRECAUTIONS.
1. Contact the Claims Administrator with all your claims requirements well
filled.
2. Your Winning Credit card MasterCard (5148 6547 8940 6543), has been insured
to it real value.
3. Payments are made in Great British Pounds. (£6.6, million pounds)
4. Any mail received of such should be reported to the claims Administrator
above. This will help fight scam.
5. Your claims administrator, has the due right to disqualify you for
misconduct
6. Do not reply this mail, please, contact your claims administrator by email
as given above OK?
7. All prizes should be claimed on or before 21 days (three weeks) after
announcement.

Secretary
Mr. Macwell Hunt @
MasterCard® / Microsoft® Mega Jackpot.

WARNING!!!
ANY MAIL RECIEVED OF THIS SUCH WITH ANY OTHER TRADE MARK OR ADDRESS SHOULD BE
FOWARDED TO YOUR CLAIMS AGENT IMMEDIATELY; THIS WILL HELP US TO FIGHT SCAM AND
LOTTERY IMPOSTERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANTICIPATED CO-OPERATION.

--

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam