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joewein.de LLC 
fighting spam and scams on the Internet 
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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:
 -  "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
 
  -  This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams. 
 
Fraud email example:
From: Barclay's Bank PLC <b.bplc456@hotmail.com> 
Reply-To: Barclay's Bank PLC <b.b.plc000002@hotmail.com> 
Date: Wed, 28 May 2014 10:32:36 +0100 (BST) 
Subject: VERY URGENT 
 
 
VERY URGENT 
 
I am ready to do this transaction with you or your  
company only if you are ready to keep it secret because I do not need  
any security problems. 
  
Thank you for your response. If you can  
prove to me that you are a very honest person as you seem to sound, I am 
 sure that success in this venture is guaranteed. I did not include all  
the confidential information about the transaction in my message because 
 I wasn't sure whether the message was going to the right person or not  
hence I have lost the contact already. 
  
I have to be frank by  
saying that you received my message coincidentally but this could also  
turn to be a blessing for both parties if only you can exercise your 
 honesty after receiving the funds in your bank account because I do not 
 want to be cheated after suffering much to protect the funds in  
question up to this moment. 
  
I 
 work in Barclay's Bank  
here in Africa where the funds are existing currently. Our Branch of the 
 Bank was being used by many African Politicians to divert funds 
 to their foreign accounts. They did not bother to know how much was  
transferred because the funds belonged to the state that is why I also  
decided 
 to put apart of the money which the amount is $20.5m US dollars (Twenty 
 million, five hundred thousand USD). In an account that belongs to know 
 body  in the bank for a long period of years. I have to give you all  
the required guidelines so that you do not make any Mistake.  
 
Most 
 of the politicians are no longer in power and some are dead. There is  
no security risk because funds do not exist in anybody's name. No one  
also knows about the secret of the funds except me only, Budgets 
 have been done many times without any mention of the funds which means  
it can be legally transferred to any person that I legalize his/her name as the owner. 
  
The 
 Funds can only be transferred to a Foreigner not resident in my country 
 because I placed the funds on a transit escrow account to enable me  
wire the funds to any part of the world when required. I have been afraid to reveal this to anybody that is why I wanted to  
contact the old Foreign Friend that I knew when he visited my country   
but hence my message came to you, please indicate to me whether  
you will be capable to receive the funds honestly and not run away later 
 . I need this money to plan the future of my family. 
  
Please confirm 
 to me your readiness to work with me so as to enable me give you  
guidelines on what to do next to enable the transfer commence  
immediately. 
 
I expect to get a quick response from you because  
our Bank has Instructed that all payment be made to customers before the 
 end of the first current Banking Quarter of the year. 
 
When 
 i received your respond I will let you know the next thing to do, Feel  
free to ask questions if any?  Kindly send your response with the  
following information; 
 
1) Your full name as it appears in your international passport (or) Drivers License. 
2) Your marital status 
3) Occupation 
4) Nationality 
5) Age 
6) Your telephone and fax numbers 
7) Your home address 
 
Once 
 
 I receive all the information from you, I will send your information's  
to our treasure department were the procedure will be done to enable you 
 claim the funds. 
 
Regards.  
 
Mr Amstron Well 
Director International Remittance Department 
Barclay's 
 Bank PLC.  
 
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