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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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.

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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from: the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447024013326 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • johnwilliamsbarclaysbankuk@googlemail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: queensely rhoda <queenselyrhoda29@msn.com>
Reply-To: <johnwilliamsbarclaysbankuk@googlemail.com>
Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 11:57:03 +0000
Subject: RE: PAYMENT OF US$800,000.00



BARCLAYS BANK LONDON UK
From: The Desk of
Mrs. Queensely Rhoda
Managing Director,

RE: PAYMENT OF US$800,000.00 INTEREST INTO YOUR
ACCOUNT:

I am Mrs. Queensely Rhoda Managing Director, Corporate
Services Division and Head of Swift Transfer Unit of
Barclays bank London UK.

Sometime ago, in our bank your inheritance fund was
brought to our bank from National Lotto Group here in
England and after some period, the money was taken back to their
treasury. But for the period of time this money was in our bank, it
generated an interest of US$800,000.00 which we are about to pay you
Via INTERNATIONAL CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT through our corresponding bank in
US.(Bank of America).

For your information and advice, you need to hasten up
to pick this Fund because from time to time the National Lotto
Group auditors do come to our bank to cross-check our files and our
financial update, the earlier you comply with the demands of the
delivery of the fund, the faster the action, because when the auditors arrive
and find out that this interest fund is still in our bank they will call
back the accrued interest to the lotto treasury account.

What we need from you now is any form of your identification for:.
example;your International passport or your driverlicense,your telephone
and fax numbers for easy communication to you with your mailing address
where this Draft will be delivered.

As a matter of fact we dont have enough time to waste since we
have wasted time in ontacting you through phone, so try and comply with
the entire necessary requirement for the transaction.

Contact Mr.John Williams
TELE : +44 - 702 - 4013326
Email : johnwilliamsbarclaysbankuk@googlemail.com

Note I have attempted to call you but all effort
failed and I had to send you a mail on this email
address, which I guessed belongs to you.
Expecting your immediately response.
Yours Sincerely,
Mrs. Queensely Rhoda
Managing Director
**************************************************
Barclays bank London UK
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:
Internet communications are not secure and therefore
the Barclays Group does not accept legal responsibility for the contents
of this message.

Although the Barclays Group operates anti-virus
programmes, it does not accept responsibility for any damage whatsoever
that is caused byviruses being passed. Any views or opinions
presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those
of the Barclays Group. Replies to this email may be monitored by the
Barclays Group for operational or business reasons.
**********************************************

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam