419 scam: "BARCLAYS BANK PLC." <jjjj-----gjjjj@att.net> =?utf-8?B?SU1NRURJQVRFIENPTlRSQUNUL0lOSEVSSVRBTkNFIFBBWU1FTlQu4oCP?=

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- oswaldod_45@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "BARCLAYS BANK PLC." <jjjj-----gjjjj@att.net>
Reply-To: oswaldod_45@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2011 05:28:58 -0800 (PST)
Subject: =?utf-8?B?SU1NRURJQVRFIENPTlRSQUNUL0lOSEVSSVRBTkNFIFBBWU1FTlQu4oCP?=

BARCLAYS BANK PLC.

CLAPHAM JUNCTION BRANCH,

7 ST JOHNS HILL,

SW 11 1 TN, LONDON

E-mail: oswaldod_45@hotmail.com

Attn: VALUABLE BENEFICIARY

This is to notify you about the status of your funds right now in our

desk. After due vetting and evaluation of your payment file, which The

Ministry of Finance of Federal Republic of Nigeria forwarded and

contacted us to see to your immediate payment.

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. Please, from now henceforth stop further communication with

any correspondence from Nigeria.

You are not to pay any charges to receive your inheritance funds

anymore as you have meet up with the whole requirements. Your

representatives in Nigeria will tell you to still go ahead with them

but on your own risk. The only thing required from you is to forward

your Non-Resident Clearance certificate/Receipt to this office. The

Government of Nigeria has paid us for handling/processing of your

payment with other Contractors, Inheritance and Lottery Winners. As

soon as we receive the above document, We shall effect your payment

immediately.

if you will follow our directives, your funds will reflect in your

account within seven working days from the date we receive it. Do not

respond to any correspondence again but only to this Bank, if you're

the real beneficiary.

Direct all message email address ID: oswaldod_45@hotmail.com

Congratulations in advance.

Yours faithfully,

Mr. Oswaldo Duncan.

Head Private Banking Section.

For: Barclays Bank Plc

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam