419 scam: "Mr.John Brown."<natwstb_20409@yahoo.co.jp> 17/10/2011

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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:

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:
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.John Brown." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <natwestpaydept@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:02:40 +0100
Subject: 17/10/2011

Attn: Beneficiary,

The U.S.A Government, World Bank And United Nations Organization Official
Has Approved to pay you part payment of your Contract / Inheritance Fund
payment Valued at?15Million (Fifteen Million Britain Pounds in conjunction
with British Government and NATWEST BANK PLC LONDON.

This decision was made last week. With this development, a woman by name
(MRS: JANET WHITE) came to our office with an application stating that you
gave her the power of attorney to be the beneficiary of your outstanding
Contract / Inheritance / Award Funds.

She made us to believe that you are dead and that she is your next of kin.
We got your email address and decided to inform you by sending an email
through this address hoping to find out, if you are dead or alive and also to
find out if you at anytime gave this woman the power of attorney to
represent you.

If you are not aware of the above instruction, please do respond to this
email immediately by contacting us, Please let us know if you are aware of
that, because we are almost ready to release part payment of ?g15Million
(Fifteen Million Britain Pounds of your outstanding funds to her nominated bank
account stated below:

Bank Name: Washington Mutual Bank
Address: 1723 Palmdale Bulv.
Palmdale Ca. 93550
Acct No:3573813158
Rout No:322271627
Swift code No:WMSBUS66
Beneficiary: JANET WHITE.

For immediate release of your said funds through ATM Card,Be informed that
you are not allowed to correspond or contact any person or office with
respect to this transfer other than this office, Britain Prime Minister Gordon
Brown,have only giving instructions, that we can only release total Value
of ?g15Million (Fifteen Million Britain Pounds) only, You are advised that a
maximum withdrawal value of ?g10,000.00 Pounds is permitted daily And we
are duly inter-switched and you can make withdrawal in any location of the
ATM Center of your choice/nearest to you any where in the world.

We have also concluded delivery arrangement with our accredited courier
service Company to oversee the delivery of the ATM Card to you without any
further delay you are required to send him an email, Please also reconfirm
your information below:

1) YOUR FULL NAMES
2) RESIDENCE ADDRESS, CITY, STATE AND COUNTRY
3) PERSONAL CELL PHONE, FAX AND MOBILE PHONE NUMBER
4) AGE AND SEX.

Yours Sincerely,
Mr.John Brown.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam