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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "MasterCard Int" <info@mastercard.co.uk>
Reply-To: <customersupport231@windowslive.com>
Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 12:47:53 -0800
Subject: !!!Attention!!! Important: Update Required<-- From MasterCard/Microsoft

Dear Customer,



Good Day to you and hope you are good? I still wait to hear from you concerning delivery of your award sum of 6.6 Million Pounds from MasterCard/Microsoft Promotion House. We will be needing delivery approval from you to commence with delivery?? Proceedings are on hold till we hear from you.


When do you intend on funding the delivery? We wait to hear from you



Regards,
Mr. Michael Goodmans.


MasterCard/Microsoft Int.

Anti-fraud resources: