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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" <info@info.com>
Reply-To: bent.dabra@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2010 10:04:55 -0400
Subject: HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON.

Barclays Bank of Ghana Ltd.
PO Box GP 69
Barclays House
High St., Accra, , Ghana
Tel+233 240277617


Hello,

Compliment of the Day

First of all, let me start by introducing myself. My name is Mr. Benjamin
T. Dabra, the Managing Director, Barclays Bank of Ghana. I have an urgent
and very confidential business proposition for you. I am the accounting
officer of Mr. Ken Lay, Enron founder, who died on July, 5th 2006, at the
age of 64 and his friend and partner Mr. Jeffrey Schilling, Ex-Enron CEO
who was recently convicted 24 years for his involvement on the collapse of
Enron, the energy trading giant in America. It will interest you to know
that on Wednesday, 7th February 2001, Mr. Ken Lay deposited a total sum of
20M dollars and on Tuesday, 24th April 2001, Mr Jeffrey Schilling
deposited 17.5dollars in our Bank. These funds were deposited into a
non-existing company's account which I opened in our bank (Barclays Bank
of Ghana Ltd) under their instructions, to avoid raising an eyebrow but
unfortunately for them and fortunately for me, the 2 men are gone.

You can read more about the sentence by visiting the below websites:

http://www.chron.com/news /specials/Enron/
http://www.accountancyage.com /accountancy age/news/2171002
/Enron-CEO-sentence-slashed
http://www.economist.com /business/displaystory.cfm ?story_id=8082101

So right now, we have the sum of 37.5M dollars lying in the 2 accounts
without any proof of ownership as it was opened with non-existing
companies name and the bank is not aware of the real beneficiaries as the
accounts did not bear any name. As their accounting officer and financial
adviser in charge of these accounts, I can comfortable present you to the
Bank as the real beneficiary of the funds and they have no right to deny
the application.

Consequently, my proposal is that I want to seek your consent as a
foreigner to stand as the owner of any of these accounts, since it has no
trace or beneficiary which makes it easier and fine to transfer to your
designated bank account as the beneficiary. The nature of my work as a
staff of the Bank will not allow me lay claim on the funds, hence this
proposal to you and be informed that as long as you are ready to cooperate
and be truthful to me, I can assure you that the sky will be our limit.
All documents and proves to enable you get any of the money will be
carefully worked out and more so, I assure you that the business is risk
free, as everything will be handled in accordance with the International
Monetary Guidelines.

I am offering you 40% for your cooperation in achieving this aim. Please,
if you are interested in working with me, I will like you to send the
below information's to enable me procure the necessary documents that will
back up the transfer to your account:

1. YOUR FULL NAMES AND ADDRESS...........................................
2. AGE AND MARITAL STATUS.............................
3. OCCUPATION...........................................
4. NATIONALITY...........................................
5. TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS FOR EASY COMMUNICATIONS

As soon as I receive your acceptance mail by forwarding the above
information's, I will prepare the paper works in your name for onward
remittance of the funds into your designated account.

Lastly, I want you to understand that this transaction requires trust,
honest and above all, utmost confidentiality, to avoid escalating.

Regards.
Mr. Benjamin T. Dabra
Managing Director
Barclays Bank of Ghana.
Email: benjamin.dabra@hotmail.com

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