419 scam: "MasterCard Int"<info@mastercard.co.uk> -->Important: Update Required<-- From MasterCard/Microsoft

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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 lottery" (no such lottery exists)
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 Int" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <michaelgoodmans1951@live.com>
Date: Fri, 26 Mar 2010 17:36:46 -0700
Subject: -->Important: Update Required<-- From MasterCard/Microsoft

Dear Customer,

How are you doing today? Hope all is ok with you today? This is to let you know that, we have just recieved notification from the relevant authorities in charge of the transfer of your winning issued Certified Cashier Check of MasterCard/Microsoft amounting to 6.6,Million GBP insured in your names, that they are yet to hear from you, as earlier instructed you to make contact with the handling officers in charge of the transfer process and unfortunately, uptill this moment, they are yet to hear from you. This is so amazing anyway.

At least, not when you are fully aware that your winning funds in question its legitimate/legalised, because your winning funds has every legal backing documents, to further proof legality/reality of your winning funds to you, as against SCAM or HOAX. Having in mind that, their are many Lottery imposters, claiming to be from this legitimate & ligalized MasterCard/Microsoft Lottery winning notification received. Nevertheless, I demand an urgent response to this sensitive issue on ground, to enable us proceed further without any further in the commencement of the transfer process. Because, further delay does not worth the reality of your winning funds in question.

Rather will lead to DISQUALIFICATION and I hope & beleived you wouldn't let such unwanted situation to happend. Therefore I urge you to see this life time fortune, beyond SCAM or HOAX, as it is the only way, in which you could see this dream at the moment, finally comes to history in your life time, by His Grace. Most important, note that your winnings its for real and of course you have every legal right to request for a CERTIFICATE of GUARANTEE covering your winnings, from the company Attorney and its will dully approved by the BRITISH CROWN COURT authorities, to further convinced you better of the reality of your winnings and also the proceedures required of you to get your winning funds transferred on time, as it is legally demanded of the Insurance code of conduct. So, think about my suggestion if necessary and get back on time. Thank you.

Regards
Mr.Michael Goodmans.
(Claims Agent)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam