419 scam: "Visa Card® / Msn® INTERNATIONAL MEGA JACKPOT"<info@visacard.com> You Are Our VisaCard Winner

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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:
- "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)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
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!

Fraud email example:

From: "Visa Card® / Msn® INTERNATIONAL MEGA JACKPOT" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <vcard.team2010@ymail.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:08:08 +0100
Subject: You Are Our VisaCard Winner

Visa Card® / Msn® INTERNATIONAL MEGA JACKPOT
PROMOTION/CLAIMS DEPARTMENT
440 THE STRAND LONDON, WC2R 0QS
ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
DIRECTOR:DR.JOHN KELLY

Attn:Winner

Winning No:VCard/877/798/2010
Email Ref No:VCard/699/33/2010

AMOUNT WON:500,000.00GBP (Five Hundred Thousand Great Britain Pounds).

This email address has brought you an unexpected luck,Your e-mail address was selected and confirmed by our co-sponsor Msn International, through their latest internet software.You are therefore been approved by Visa Card Int./Msn UK the sum of 500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Great Britain Pounds).
===================================
CONTACT CLAIMS ADMINISTRATOR
===================================
NAME: Mr.Michael Larry
Email: vcard.team2010@ymail.com
Visa Card® / Msn® Promotion Department
Do email the above Claims Administrator, at once with all the claims requirements below.To avoid unnecessary delay.They are needed to proceed.
Claims Requirements:
1. Full Name: _____________________

2. Address: _____________________

3. Nationality:___________Sex:________

4. Age:________Date of Birth:___________

5. Occupation:_________Martial Status_________

6. Cell Phone:___________Fax:___________

7. State of Origin:_________Country:_______

8.Winning No:_______Email Ref No:______

PROCEEDURES / RIGHTS AND PRECAUTIONS

Kindly indicate your payment option and Contact the Claims Administrator with all your claims requirements well filled @ vcard.team2010@ymail.com
*Mode of Payment*
(i).Delivery of Prepaid Visa card® Valued 500,000.00GBP by a registered Courier Company.

Cheers,
Secretary,(Mrs.Dora Lazmon)
Visa Card® / Msn® Mega Jackpot
2010 - 2011 Microsoft Corporation.All rights reserved

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam