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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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.

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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "clearance document" (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 ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • ",500,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "offshore account" (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 next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Barclays Bank Plc." <mikeanderson8@cjun.com>
Date: Fri, 23 May 2008 21:33:13 +0100
Subject: RE: INSTRUCTION TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF 5,500,000.00 GBP.



Barclays Bank Plc.
International Banking Centre
38 Hans Crescent, Knightsbridge
London SW1X 0LZ-United Kingdom.
http://www.barclays.co.uk


Dear Sir/Madam

RE: INSTRUCTION TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF
5,500,000.00 GBP

We at Barclays Bank wish to inform you that after thorough
review and evaluation of your Inheritance/Contract funds in
conjunction with the World Bank Auditor General and the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) assessment report,
your payment file was forwarded to us for immediate
transfer of the above quoted amount to your designated bank
account from their offshore account with us.

The reports given to us shows that you have been going
through hard times 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.

You are to obtain a Non-Residential Clearance documentation
which our legal team will be to assisting you with in the
process 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.

You are hereby adviced to follow our directives so that your
funds will be credited into your account within five (5)
banking
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, TELEPHONE and FAX
NUMBERS
to our representative's email address below.


Yours Sincerely,
Mr. Mike Anderson.
Head, International Banking Division.
Barclays Bank Plc. United Kingdom.
E-mail: mikeanderson8@cjun.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam