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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: "CRUICK SHANK ALEXANDER IAN ERIC" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <caie@inMail.sk>
Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 07:53:32 -0700
Subject: Attn: Beneficiary,

BARCLAYS BANK PLC
Toll free:  866-860-0044
Corporate Trust Office
Electronics & Telephone Banking
Facsimile:206-339-9489
101 Barclay Street New York 10007
Attn: Beneficiary,
Barclays Bank PLC is a member of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) established under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. The FSCS protects deposits with the bank up to a total of $500,000 per depositor. Most depositors, including individuals and small firms, can benefit from this type of protection. The Scheme covers deposits made with branches of the bank in the UK, United States and within the European Economic Area and deposits in all currencies are treated alike. This Scheme is not applicable to deposits held at branches in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
Definitely, I know that this letter will be a surprising one to you. First, I will like to introduce myself formally as DR CRUICKSHANK ALEXANDER IAN ERIC, Head, Electronics and Telephone banking department Barclays Bank Plc New York.
You are being officially contacted by me today because your Inheritance Funds were Re-deposited into the "Federal Suspense Account" of Barclays Bank Plc last week, because you did not forward your Claim as the Right beneficiary. Well known to all, The Barclays Bank Plc is the mother Bank of all commercial Banks here in the United States. This morning at about (10:15am Standard Pacific Time), I was alerted by my Secretary that Three men were at my Office Reception waiting to see me and so I told my Secretary to let them in.
To my surprise they were two Canadians and they introduced themselves as (Mr. Roland Gulf, and  Mr. Tim Urbahns, both from Canada) and accompanied with them was an American Attorney with the name (Micheal Vassia).Really these men were unexpected by me because their visit was impromptu. I had to ask them why they came to see me in person and they said that they were here to Collect the Inheritance Bill Sum of(Thirty Million United States Dollars) which rightfully belongs to you, on your behalf.
At this development I asked them who authorized them to come down to my office for the Collection of this Payment and they told me that you asked them to come and collect this Funds on your Behalf. In fact this was the biggest shock that this Bank have ever received so far because your Inheritance Funds is still in the "Federal Suspense Account" of Barclays Bank Plc, yet you sent these men to come and collect this Funds on your behalf without notifying us first.
Following the Legal Report we in this Authoritative Office received from our Investigation Legal Unit of this today, we found out that Some people were illegally contacting you and also getting information about your Inheritance Funds with the Barclays Bank Plc, in other for him to connive with this two Canadians to claim your Funds.
 
Its very important for you to note that some of our Citizens in this World today are into the act of using the good name of the Barclays Bank Plc to steal money out from Innocent citizen like you. After a complete investigation that was carried out this morning, we also found out that you also made some Payment to them , in the name to claim your Funds from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
We in this bank was very confused when they confidently walked into this bank and was claiming that You sent them to come and Collect your Funds on your behalf. If actually you want them to help you collect your Inheritance Sum, at least you should have informed me as the Head, Electronics and Telephone banking department of this Bank. They actually tendered some Vital Documents, which proved that you actually sent them for the Collection of these Funds. Honestly, it really baffled me that you took such decision without any information to us.
Here are the Document which they tendered to this Bank today:
1. LETTER OF ADMINISTRATION.
2. HIGH COURT INJUCTION.
3. ORDER TO RELEASE.
 
Actually, these Documents which they tendered to this Noble Bank is a clear Proof that you sent them to Collect this Funds for you.
 
Finally, I told them to come back in three working days and they promised to come back. As the Adviser to the Head of this Noble Bank, I was supposed to Release this Funds to them today but I refused to do so because I wanted to hear from you first. Due to the Nature of my job, I will not want to make any mistake in Releasing this Funds to anyone except you whom is the Recognized Beneficiary to this Funds.
 
Kindly clarify us on this issue before we make this Payment to these foreigners whom came on your behalf. There fore you should refurnish us with the following information if truly you mandated them to do this or not for us to know what to do. You have to confirm this or otherwise immediately so that we will know what to do.
 
1) Your full name.
2) Phone, Fax and Mobile #.
3) Company name, Position and Address.
4) Profession, age, sex and marital status.
5) Any kind of identification
Dear Contract Beneficiary, on receipt of this confidential Letter, you are required to get back to us immediately.
Regards,
DR CRUICKSHANK ALEXANDER IAN ERIC
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Barclays Bank PLC. Registered in England. Registered No: 1026167. Registered Office: 1 Churchill Place, London, E14 5HP. Barclays Bank PLC is authorized and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Barclays Bank PLC adheres to the principles of the Banking Code. A copy of the Code is available on request. "The Woolwich" and "Woolwich" are trading names of Barclays Bank PLC. The insurer of this policy is Gresham Insurance Company Limited.
                                Proud sponsors of the Barclays Premier League
 
 

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