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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: "Chris Lucas Barclays Bank PLC" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <chrislucas.barclays@live.com>
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:02:41 -0800
Subject: Did you authorize Mr. Louis Henrik?

>From The Desk of MR. CHRIS LUCAS
FOREIGN PAYMENT MANAGER
BARCLAYS BANK
UNITED KINGDOM
PHONE: +44 704 573 5660-3
Hotline: +44 704 570 4813
FAX: +44 700 596 3733

Did you authorize Mr. Louis Henrik who presented document of claim
purported to have been signed by you for the release of your
part-payment Beneficiary Inheritance / Winnings settlement of Five
million five hundred thousand US Dollars ($5.5) only, which have been
made and sealed for immediate transfer to you? This is because the Fund
Certificate was credited to you, why this later development of Mr. Louis
Henrik?

Ensure that you do not delay to get back soonest as this calls for
urgent and cogent attention to avoid misappropriation, misconception and
misconstrue in BARCLAYS BANK beneficiary's financial transfer record. If
you did not give any Power of Attorney or Authorization to the said Mr.
Louis Henrik for claim of your fund, please reconfirm immediately to
avoid banking irregularities, as your fund is now ready to be
transferred (based on the urgent instructions from the Committee of
Foreign Contractor Payments Board under the control of the PRIME
MINISTER'S office).
In summary to your fund transfer contact the Barclays Bank International
Remittance Department for your fund release, while taking note to
complete the under listed: Fill the information required while replying
this email.

1) Your Full Name..............................
2) Residential Address............................
3) Direct Cell-Phone/Mobile ...............
4) Age and marital........................
5) Company Name and Position if any ...........
6. Occupation. ....................................
If you did not authorized him to collect your fund or that you do not
even know Him , get back to us with the above info to release your fund.

As soon as this information is received, your payment will be made to
you through any approved method you desire. Certified Bank Draft/cash
payment or Wired Transfer to your nominated bank account are the two
approved method. You are advice to contact the Foreign Department
immediately. Your contract Ref. No. is BAR/LON/UK/BEN/007.
This fund is in line with the Federal Policy for release of all
outstanding payment beneficiary due for payment as directed by the PRIME
MINISTER, Mr Gordon Brown.

REGARDS
Mr. Chris Lucas
The Executive DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
BARCLAYS BANK, UK.
Foreign Remittance Dept.
Hotline: +44 704 570 4813
FAX: +44 700 596 3733

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