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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. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "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)
  • "tax clearance" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
  • "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 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.
  • uk.award@inbox.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: <uk.award@inbox.com>
Date: Wed, 28 May 2008 09:54:10 -0500
Subject: UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL MasterCard® / Microsoft® INTERNATIONAL MEGA LOTTERY JACKPOT AWARD PLEASE READ'''?

MasterCard® / Microsoft® INTERNATIONAL MEGA JACKPOT
BARCLAYS BANK PLATINUM VISA CARD
BARCLAYS PREMIERSHIP
MICROSOFT OFFICE, UNITED KINGDOM
PRESENT DIRECTOR; MR. Dennes Vandergate


REGISTRATION NO: 9027640
INSURANCE NO: MSTC006
TAX CLEARANCE NO28456
AMOUNT WON: £3,500,000.00


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
£3,500,000.00 (THREE MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS). Equivalent
to $7,300,000.00 USD. (Seven Million, Three 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 the email addresses below.


Claims Requirements:
1. Full Name:.....................................
2. Address:.......................................
3. Nationality:...................................
4. Age:.......... Date of Birth:.................
5. Occupation:........Nature Of Work..............
6. Phone:................Fax:.....................
7. State of Origin:...........Country:............
8. Monthly Income:................................
9. Delivery Options:..............................
(a) BANK. (b) COURIER.


MasterCard® / Microsoft® Claims Administrator
CONTACT:
Name: Mr. William George.
E-mail: uk.award@inbox.com
Claims agent/Verifying house.



PROCEEDURES / RIGHTS AND PRECAUTIONS.

Contact the Claims Administrator with all your claims requirements well
filled. Your claims Administrator will give you all the guide lines on how
to
process your claims. If you need an Attorney then, then tell your Claims
Administrator. Your claims administrator has the due right to disqualify
you
for misconduct. Any mail received of such should be reported to the claims
Administrator above. This will help fight scam. You will need a Legal
Adviser (An Attorney) to help you sign all the necessary documents.


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.



Copyright © 1995-2007 MS-WORD LOTTERY INC. UK.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam