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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "Barclays Bank Plc" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrspatiencew.barclays@googlemail.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:52:52 +0100
Subject: RE: INSTRUCTIONS TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT ( GET BACK TO US FOR UPDATE)

RE: INSTRUCTIONS TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT ( GET BACK TO US FOR UPDATE)
 
 
Barclays Bank Plc
http://www.barclaysbank.co.uk       
 
Dear Beneficiary,
 
RE: INSTRUCTIONS TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF US$6,800,000.00
 
We at this bank wish to congratulate and inform you that after thorough review of your Contract/Inheritance funds transfer in conjunction with the World Bank’s and the International Remittance assessment report, your payment file was forwarded to us for immediate transfer of a part-payment of US$6,800,000.00 to your designated bank account from their offshore account with us.
 
The Auditor's reports forwarded to us shows that you have been going through hard times by paying a lot of money to see to the release of your funds, which has been delayed by some dubious officials.
 
We therefore advice that you stop further communication with any correspondence outside this office since you do not have to pay any money or transfer charges to receive your funds as you have met up with the whole funds transfer requirements.
 
The only thing required from you is to obtain the Non-Residential Clearance Form to enable us credit your account directly by telegraphic transfer or through any of our corresponding banks and send copies of our bank's telex and funds transfer documents to you and your bankers for confirmation.
 
Should you follow our directives, your funds will be credited and confirm in your bank account within five (5) working days from the day you obtain this Non-Residential Clearance Form.
 
For further details and assistance on this Transfer Notice, kindly forward your CONTACT ADDRESS, TELEPHONE and FAX NUMBERS directly to this E-mail: mrs.pwheatc@gmail.com, for confidentiality of its contents.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Mrs. Patience Wheatcroft
Global Banking Division, Barclays bank,UK.
Direct Tel: +447077086591
Fax:07005-801-034

Anti-fraud resources: