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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "BARCLAYS BANK OF UK" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <frankmaureen1@yahoo.cn>
Date: Sun, 1 Aug 2010 22:50:32 +0100
Subject: INSTRUCTIONS On How TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF US$5,000,000.00

BARCLAYS BANK OF UK
Barclays Bank PLC 1 Churchill Place
London, E14 5HP,United Kingdom
http://www.barclays.co.uk
IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE
OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF FINANCE (NNPC)
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT
TINUBU SQUARE,VICTORIA ISLAND,
LAGOS-NIGERIA.

SUBJECT: INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF US$5,000,000.00

Attention Beneficiary,

We at this bank wish to congratulate and inform you that after thorough
review of your Inheritance/Contract funds transfer release documents in
conjunction with the Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund
assessment report from the federal government of Nigeria and, your payment file was
forwarded to us for immediate transfer of US$5,000,000.00 to your designated bank account as part
payment from their offshore account with us.

The Audit reports given to us shows that you have been going through hard times by paying a lot of money to see
to the release of your funds, which has been delayed by some dubious officials.

We therefore advice that you stop further communication with any correspondence outside this office
since you do not have to pay any money or fee to receive your funds as you have met up with the whole funds transfer requirements.

The only thing required from you is to obtain the Non-Residential Clearance Form to enable us credit your account directly by
telegraphic transfer or through any of our corresponding banks and send copies of the funds transfer release documents to you and
your bankers for confirmation.

If you follow our Rules and directives, your funds will be credited and reflect in your bank account within five (5)
bank working days from the day you obtain this Non-Residential Clearance Form.

For further details and assistance on this Remittance Notification, kindly forward your FULL CONTACT ADDRESS,
to my private email address: frankmaureen1@yahoo.cn

1) YOUR FULL NAME
2) PHONE, FAX AND MOBILE
3) COMPANY NAME, POSITION AND ADDRESS.
4) PROFESSION, AGE AND MARITAL STATUS.
5) WORKING ID/INT'L PASSPORT.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs. Maureen Frank
Head, International Banking Division.
Barclays Bank PLC, UK.

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