419 scam: "MasterCard International"<uksinspectionagency

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "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 send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
- ",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. )
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
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.
- +2348025068068 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- int.mastercard@yahoo.pl (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MasterCard International" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <int.mastercard66@yahoo.pl>
Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 02:24:28 -0000
Subject: DEPT SETTLEMENT

<From: MasterCard® Africa. APPROVED ON: WEDNESDAY FEBUARY 3rd 2010 10:00AM
Subject: DEPT SETTLEMENT
OUR REF: IMF/REP-10/10500000
CLAIMS ADMINISTRATON: DR. REX JOHNSON
EMAIL: int.mastercard@yahoo.pl
TEL: +234-8025-068-068

TABLE OF COMPENSATION.

CARD REGISTRATION NO: 9027640
INSURANCE NO: MSTC006 {pending}
TAX CLEARANCE NO: 28456
AMOUNT: $10,500,000.00

This email address has brought you an unexpected Luck, please read through carefully. The International
Monetary Fund(IMF) have been authorized by the World Bank and empowered with one trillion dollars to
commence the immediate release of all held funds from the United Kingdom, United States, Europe, Asia and
Africa. MasterCard® Africa have hence been employed to commence with the immediate compensation and
co-ordination of payments of all pending Federal government contracts, Inheritance, Bank transfers, Lottery
winnings and compensationsof scam victims, inquiries should be directed to this department immediately.

Your file has been updated and your email was selected and confirmed by our co-sponsor, Central Bank of
Nigeria(CBN) as one of the Legal Beneificiaries. You will be pleased to Note that you have been approved
to receive a sum of Ten Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars In Cash, Credited to
MasterCard No. 5148 6547 8940 6543 with serial Numbers: 2419879 and Reg. No.MCIMJ: 5148/4178, you
are the sixth Beneficiary to be notified and we are only compensating 10 beneficiaries in this First Quarter of the year 2010.

All beneficiaries are mandated to travel over to master card Nigeria Regional office with valid identification
to sign the release documents you will have to contact the Office of the Presidency, Federal Republic of
Nigeria for Non Appearance Approval Letter which attracts a fee of US$400 United States Dollars only.
Contact Informations for Securing the Non Apperance Approval will be supplied subsequently

Note that Your funds totalling Ten Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars(US$10,500,000.00)
has been lodge in MasterCard (5148 6547 8940 6543) also drawn in your name, ready for release. All you
have to do is Travel down immediately for the Signing and subsequent release of your Card.

PROCEDURES / RIGHTS AND PRECAUTIONS.

1. Your Winning Credit card MasterCard (5148 6547 8940 6543), has been insured to its real value.

2. Payments are made in Great British Pounds. ($10,500,000.00)

3. Any mail received of such should be reported to the claims Administrator above. This will help fight scam.

4. Your claims administrator, has the due right to disqualify you for misconduct

5. Contact your claims administrator(Dr. Rex Johnson) by email as given above

6. All prizes should be claimed on or before 14 days (three weeks) after announcement.

Secretary
Mrs. Mercy Hunt @
MasterCard® / Microsoft® Mega Jackpot.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam