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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: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <www.barclaysdepartment@w.cn>
Date: Sat, 20 Mar 2010 03:39:49 +0330
Subject: Notification of payment via atm card

Notification of payment via atm card
 
This is to officially inform you that we have verified your contract file presently on my desk, and i found out that you have not received your payment due to your lack of co-operation and not fulfilling the obligations giving to you in respect to your contract payment.
 
Secondly, you are hereby advised to stop dealing with some non-officials in the bank as this is an illegal act and will have to stop if you so wish to receive your payment immediately.
 
After the board of director's meeting held in Barclays Bank United Kingdom, we have resolved in finding a solution to your problem. We have arranged your payment through our swift card payment centre in Europe, America and Asia pacific; this is part of an instruction/mandate passed by the senate in respect to overseas contract payment and debt re-scheduling.
 
We will send you an atm card which you will use to withdraw your money via atm machine in any part of the world, and the maximum daily limit is three thousand Pounds steeling (3,000.00 GBP).
 
The foreign payment officer of the has been mandated to issue out 15 million GBP as part payment for this fiscal year.
 
If you like to receive your fund this way, kindly reconfirm your informations as listed below.
Youre Full Name:
Youre Sex:
Youre Age:
Youre Occupation:
Youre Nationality:
Youre Telephone Number:
Your Mobile Number:
Youre Fax Number:
Scan copy of your international passport or drivers license
 
We shall be expecting to receive your information as you have to stop any further communication with anybody or office.
 
Thanks for your co-operation.
 
Note: that because of impostors, we hereby issued you our code of conduct, which is (atm=811) so you have to indicate this code when ever you are contacting us
 
Best regards,
 
Andrew Mac Thomas
Public Affairs Director
Barclays Bank PLC

Anti-fraud resources: