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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "international money order" (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. )
  • "money orders " (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. )
  • "money order " (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. )
  • "cheques " (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. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
• 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.
  • +44730404673
• 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.
  • mediasoft_exe@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: MEDIASOFT INCORPORATION <mediasoft_exe_01@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 13 May 2007 13:05:21 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: JOB OFFER


Dear Prospective Employee,

I am sorry for this unprecedented way of communicating this to you but would like to have your attention for a moment. Are you seeking an extra income? Would you like to set your own work schedule?
Work in the hours you desire and at the same time earn an extra income for you and your family?
Well, we might have the answer. Our company MEDIASOFT INC. needs representatives in the States and Canada.
We would want to know if you would like to work on line from home and getting paid weekly without leaving or affecting your present job? This is no get rich quick scheme neither is it a scam or hoax in anyway. You are not required to pay any registration fee or pay for any application form before you get employed. Instead of paying for anything you will be receiving your weekly salary as soon as you get started. Too good to be true you will say.
In case you are considering of taking our offer, statistics show that 40-60% of north American and Canadian work force by the year 2010 will be earning more having extra jobs and working from home! Get a jump on your future, earn an extra income and secure a job with us.

MEDIASOFT INC. is a UK based company that provides computer programs and software which are not ordinarily available commercially to people and businesses across Europe, Africa, Asia and America. We are presently aiming to infiltrate the American and Canadian market on a large scale since we have been having a high demand for our products and services.
With your help we can reach and provide a better service to more people and businesses in America and Canada, faster and at a lower cost than our competitors.
Our clients make payments for our products and services every week. They pay for our services in 3 major ways;
* Through Cheques
* Money orders or drafts( this forms of payment have been put on hold due to some security reasons)
* Wire transfers
* Cash
Some of these forms of payment are not readily cashable or accepted in the united kingdom. This is the reason we need someone to work as our representative in the States or Canada and assist us in processing the payments
made to us by our clients.
You will receive as a weekly salary 10% of whatever a client pays to us. Your job will be to receive this payment sent to us which will be sent to you via mail or courier service(if payment is a check,money order or draft) and cashing it at your bank or any designated cashing point.
Payment can be through wire tranfer, international money order or cashier cheque. If payment is in through wire transfer, we will require you to open a bank account to receive this payment. We are only able to accept payment from clients that bank with the following banks stated below but will broaden our list of banks as we increase our number of representatives in America and Canada
to make work more convenient for you.
1. Citi bank
2. Royal bank of Canada
3. Bank of America
4. Wellsfargo bank
Whatever the form of payment is you are to immediately deduct your weekly salary(10% of the money) and forward
the balance to us or any of our various branches as you are instructed to do. Money will be sent to us by WESTERN UNION TRANSFER as this is a safe, secure, fast and reliable means of receiving funds.

To get started all we require from you is your full name, address and phone number so that we can email you a letter of employment from our company which you have to reply with a signed acceptance letter and a scanned
copy of your Identification card or International Passsport attached to it.

We anxiously await your response.

Your Faithfully,

BEN WOODS
(MEDIASOFT INC.)


N/B: TO SAFEGUARD THE INTEREST OF OUR REPRESENTATIVES(YOU) WE ONLY ACCEPT CERTIFIED AND NOTABLE BANK CHEQUES FROM OUR CLIENTS. WE ALSO DO NOT DISCLOSE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION TO OUR CLIENTS OR ANYONE ELSE .

PHONE:+44-78444845053
FAXLINE: +44-73 040 4673
EMAIL : MEDIASOFT_EXE@YAHOO.CO.UK

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam