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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: Barclay's Bank PLC <b.bplc456@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: Barclay's Bank PLC <b.b.plc000002@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 28 May 2014 10:32:36 +0100 (BST)
Subject: VERY URGENT


VERY URGENT

I am ready to do this transaction with you or your
company only if you are ready to keep it secret because I do not need
any security problems.
 
Thank you for your response. If you can
prove to me that you are a very honest person as you seem to sound, I am
sure that success in this venture is guaranteed. I did not include all
the confidential information about the transaction in my message because
I wasn't sure whether the message was going to the right person or not
hence I have lost the contact already.
 
I have to be frank by
saying that you received my message coincidentally but this could also
turn to be a blessing for both parties if only you can exercise your
honesty after receiving the funds in your bank account because I do not
want to be cheated after suffering much to protect the funds in
question up to this moment.
 
I
work in Barclay's Bank
here in Africa where the funds are existing currently. Our Branch of the
Bank was being used by many African Politicians to divert funds
to their foreign accounts. They did not bother to know how much was
transferred because the funds belonged to the state that is why I also
decided
to put apart of the money which the amount is $20.5m US dollars (Twenty
million, five hundred thousand USD). In an account that belongs to know
body  in the bank for a long period of years. I have to give you all
the required guidelines so that you do not make any Mistake.

Most
of the politicians are no longer in power and some are dead. There is
no security risk because funds do not exist in anybody's name. No one
also knows about the secret of the funds except me only, Budgets
have been done many times without any mention of the funds which means
it can be legally transferred to any person that I legalize his/her name as the owner.
 
The
Funds can only be transferred to a Foreigner not resident in my country
because I placed the funds on a transit escrow account to enable me
wire the funds to any part of the world when required. I have been afraid to reveal this to anybody that is why I wanted to
contact the old Foreign Friend that I knew when he visited my country 
but hence my message came to you, please indicate to me whether
you will be capable to receive the funds honestly and not run away later
. I need this money to plan the future of my family.
 
Please confirm
to me your readiness to work with me so as to enable me give you
guidelines on what to do next to enable the transfer commence
immediately.

I expect to get a quick response from you because
our Bank has Instructed that all payment be made to customers before the
end of the first current Banking Quarter of the year.

When
i received your respond I will let you know the next thing to do, Feel
free to ask questions if any?  Kindly send your response with the
following information;

1) Your full name as it appears in your international passport (or) Drivers License.
2) Your marital status
3) Occupation
4) Nationality
5) Age
6) Your telephone and fax numbers
7) Your home address

Once

I receive all the information from you, I will send your information's
to our treasure department were the procedure will be done to enable you
claim the funds.

Regards.

Mr Amstron Well
Director International Remittance Department
Barclay's
Bank PLC.

Anti-fraud resources: