419 scam: Wema Bank Plc <x---5@att.net> DEAR BENEFICIARY.

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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Wema Bank Plc <x---5@att.net>
Reply-To: ralph.blaine09@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2011 05:36:27 -0800 (PST)
Subject: DEAR BENEFICIARY.

WEMA BANK PLC.
Registered in NIGERIA.
Registered No: 1026167.

Attn:Beneficiary,

RE: INSTRUCTION TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF US$5,000,000.00

We at this bank wishes to congratulate and inform you that after thorough
review and evaluation of your Inheritance/Contract funds in conjunction
with the World Bank Auditor General and the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
assessment reports, your payment file was forwarded to us for immediate
transfer of the above quoted amount to your designated bank account from
their offshore account with us.

The reports given 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 fee to receive your inheritance/Contract funds as you have met up with
the whole funds transfer requirements. The only thing we 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 the funds transfer release documents to you and your
bankers for confirmation.

Should you follow our directives, your funds will be credited and
reflect in your account within five (5) bank working days from the day you obtain
this Non-Residential Clearance Form.

For further details and assistance on this Remittance Notification,
Kindly forward your full contact address telephone and fax number
directly to this mail box.

Yours sincerely,
MR.RALPH BLAINE
WEMA BANK PLC.
Registered in NIGERIA.
Registered No: 1026167.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam