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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: "MR. IAN PALMER" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barclaysbankplc247@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:09:50 -0700
Subject: **Mr. Ian Palmer**

Our:Ref 22/06/09
MR. IAN PALMER
BAR CLAYS BANK PLC
LONDON, UK.
       Barclays Bank PLC. Registered in England. Registered No: 1026
****************************
Letter Of Intent.
****************************
My name is Mr. Ian Palmer a staff of BAR CLAYS BANK PLC -LONDON I am writing
following an opportunity in my office that will be of immense benefit to both
of us. In my department we discovered an abandoned sum of ?10.5million British
Pounds Sterling (Ten million five hundred thousand British Pounds) in an
account that belongs to one of our foreign customers Late Mr. Morris Thompson an
American who unfortunately lost his life in the plane crash of Alaska Airlines Flight
261which crashed on January 31 2000, including his wife and only daughter.
Since we got information about his death, we have been expecting his next of
kin or relatives to come over and claim his money because we cannot release it
unless somebody applies for it as next of kin or relation to the deceased as
indicated in our banking guidelines. Unfortunately I learnt that his supposed
next of kin being his only daughter died along with him in the plane crash
leaving nobody with the knowledge of this fund behind for the claim.
It is therefore upon this discovery that I and two other officials in this
department now decided to make business with you and release the money to you
as the next of kin or beneficiary of the funds for safety keeping and subsequent
disbursement since nobody is coming for it and we don't want this money to
go back into Government treasury as unclaimed bill.
The banking law and guidelines here stipulates that such money remained after
five years the money will be transferred into banking treasury as unclaimed
funds. We agreed that 35% of this money will be for you as foreign partner,
while the balance will be for me and my colleagues. I will visit your country
for the disbursement according to the percentages indicated above once this
money gets into your account.
Please be honest to me and trust is our watchword in this transaction. Note
this transaction is confidential. As soon as you receive this mail you should
contact me by return mail.Please note that all necessary arrangement for the
smooth release of these funds to you has been finalized.
We will discuss much in details when I do receive your response. Please in your
response include the Following items So that i can give you a call to explain
better.
First Name*****************************
Last Name*****************************
Address*******************************
Phone Number**************************
Gender********************************
Age**********************************
Occupation:*****************************
Marital Status:***************************
 
Thanks for your anticipated assistance.
Yours Sincerely,
Mr. Ian Palmer

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