419 scam: "MasterCard Email Award 2010" <info@mastercardonline.com> REF NO: M154S/WL04.

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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "microsoft mega jackpot lottery" (no such lottery exists)
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "million pounds" (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)
- "marvinduke3@live.ca" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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: "MasterCard Email Award 2010" <info@mastercardonline.com>
Reply-To: marvinduke3@live.ca
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 08:40:36 +0300
Subject: REF NO: M154S/WL04.

MASTERCARD/MICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT LOTTERY
Baley House, Har Road
Sutton, London,SM1 4te
UNITED KINGDOM. LONDON.
BANK OF ENGLAND/MICROSOFT HOUSE,
LONDON.

REF NO: M154S/WL04.
MICRO (LOTTERY) CHIP NO: 9465021

Dear Lucky Winner,

This document is important and should be read carefully. This mail and the
contents which it offers have been cleared and endorsed by the Executives of
the Provisional Ruling Council of MasterCard UK. It is a civil wrong and a
criminal offense under the ordinances of the European Gaming Board in
collaboration with MASTERCARDÂ® INTERNATIONAL and under the law of Lottery
ACT CODE OF CONDUCT section 124 subsections 13b of the British government
from the House of Commons 1994 to abuse this program. Your e-mail address
was selected and confirmed by our co-sponsor Microsoft International,
through the latest internet software. You have therefore been approved by
MasterCardÂ® Int'l/MicrosoftÂ® Corporation UK the sum of Â£3.6 Million Pounds
(THREE MILLION, SIX HUNDRED POUNDS). These funds are in cash, Credited to a
valid cashier's cheque, with a winning REF NO: M154S/WL04 :MICRO (LOTTERY)
CHIP NO: 9465021. Be informed that your prize has been insured and ready for
pay out to you. You are to contact the MasterCard Liaison Officer with your
required processing information below:

CONTACT YOUR ALLOTTED MASTERCARD CORRESPONDENCE CLAIMS AGENT BELOW

Claims Agent
Dr. Marvin Duke
Email: marvinduke3@live.ca

CLAIMS REQUIREMENT: below In order to avoid unnecessary delays and
complications.

1. FULL NAMES: .................................
2. NATIONALITY:...............................
3. DATE OF BIRTH: ............................
4. SEX: ..................................................
5. MARITAL STATUS: .........................
6. CONTACT ADDRESS: .....................
7. TELEPHONE NUMBER: ................
8. OCCUPATION: ................................
9. WINNING E-MAIL ADDRESS:......
10. REF/ CHIP NUMBERS:................
11. TOTAL AMOUNT WON:...............
12. PAYMENT OPTION: ....................
(COURIER)
Once the above information has been received, your prize will be verified
with the information and released for delivery to your home address.

Sincerely,
Dr. Cute Murphy
Head of Customer Service
MasterCardÂ® Inc, UK.

WARNING!!!
If you are not the intended recipient of this Doc, you may not disclose,
use, disseminate, distribute, copy or reply upon this message or attachment
in any way. If you received this e-mail message in error, please return by
forwarding the message and its attachments to the sender. THE OFFICE OF THE
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF MASTERCARDÂ® INCORPORATED UK. We do not accept
liability for any errors, omissions, corruption or virus in the contents of
this mail.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam