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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: "Barrister Barry Smith" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barclaysbankintlplc@mail.com>
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:46:59 +0100
Subject: YOUR URGENT RESPONSE IS HIGHLY NEEDED

BARCLAYS BANK PLC.
CLAPHAM JUNCTION BRANCH,
7 ST JOHNS HILL,
SW 11 1 TN, LONDON
WWW.barclaysbank.co.uk.
 
 
 
Attention: Beneficiary.
 
 
 
               REF: - INSTRUCTION TO CREDIT YOUR BANK ACCOUNT.
 
This is to notify you about the status of your fund right now in my desk. After due vetting and evaluation of your among the list of unpaid contractors, inheritance next of kin and lotto beneficiaries that was originated from Africa, Europe, Asia Plus Middle East, Americans ) among the list of individuals and companies FINANCE HOUSE LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM. That your unpaid fund has been located to the
>From our findings you have been going through hard ways by paying a lot of charges to see to the release of your fund which has been delayed.
 
We advice that you stop further communication with any correspondence from Africa or any part in the world .You don't have to pay any charges to receive your contractors, inheritance next of kin and lotto fund anymore as you have met up with the whole requirements, your representatives in Africa or outside Africa will tell you not to go ahead with them but on your own risk. The only thing required from you is to obtain Non-Resident Clearance Form/Receipt which we are not asking you to pay the fee to us here in United Kingdom as the Government has paid us for handling/processing of your payment with other customers. We will help you to see that you obtain the form so that our bank will affect immediate transfer of your contractors, inheritance next of kin and lotto sum in to your designated bank account.
 
If you follow up our directives your fund will reflect in your account within 14 working Bank days from the day you obtain this form. Do not go through anybody again but through this Bank if you really want your fund.
You are also advised to co-operate with him and comply with the Barclays Bank of London rules because it is the only bank that has been granted the power of payment by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in conjunction with the World Bank, US GOVERNMENT, and UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION.
 
 
 
If you want to complain, please give us the following details:
• Your name and address
• Your account number and sort code, if you are one of our customers
• Your daytime phone number (where we can contact you if we need to)
• A clear description of your concerns or complaint.
• Details of what you would like us to do to put the matter right.
• Copies of any relevant letters, policies and references.
Please respond to my private email: barclaysbankintlplc@mail.com
 
 
 
Yours sincerely,
 
 
Barry Smith
Head, Private Banking Section.
Barclays Bank Plc
 

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