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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: barclaysbank london <mr_johnw2@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <mr_johnwiliams_online2001@yahoo.fr>
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2007 20:00:29 +0000
Subject: REF:- INSTRUCTION TO CREDIT YOUR BANK ACCOUNT



BARCLAYS BANK PLC. CLAPHAM JUNCTION BRANCH, 7 ST OHNS HILL, SW 11 1 TN, LONDON WWW.barclaysbank.co.uk Attention: Sir/Madam, REF:- INSTRUCTION TO CREDIT YOUR BANK ACCOUNT This is to notify you about the statue of your fund right now in my desk. After due vetting and evaluation of your Inheritance file which The Ministry of Finance of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Forwarded and contracted us to see to your immediate payment.
>From our findings you have been going through hard ways by paying alot of charges to see to the release of your fund ($28, 500, 000, 00) which has been delayed.We advice that you stop further communication with any orrespondence from Nigeria.You don't have to pay any charges to receive your Inheritance fund anymore as you have met 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 obtain Non-Resident Clearance Form/Reciept which we are not asking you to pay the fee to us here in United Kingdom as the Government of Nigeria have paid us for handling/processing of your payment with other customers.We will help you to see that you obatin the form so that our bank will effect immediate transfer of your Inheritance sum ($28, 500, 000, 00) in to your designated bank account.
Will you follow up our directives your fund will reflect in your account within five 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. MR.JOHN Williams, Head Private Banking Section,Barclays Bank Plc.

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