419 scam: Barclays Bank Plc <mrssarahsmith081@live.com> Instructions from Barclays Bank Plc

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- "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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "accredited attorney" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "barrcarljohnson@ymail.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Barclays Bank Plc <mrssarahsmith081@live.com>
Reply-To: barrcarljohnson@aol.co.uk
Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:16:04 -0400
Subject: Instructions from Barclays Bank Plc

Barclays Bank Plc
1 Churchill Place,
London, E14 5HP,
United Kingdom.
http://www.barclays.co.uk

Dear Beneficiary,

RE: INSTRUCTIONS TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF US$2.800, 000.00
We the Management of Barclays Bank wish to congratulate and inform you
that after the thorough review of your Inheritance/Contract Funds
Transfer release documents in conjunction with the World Bank and the
International Monetary Fund Assessment Report, your payment file was
forwarded to us for immediate transfer of a part-payment
US$2,800,000.00 to your designated bank account from their offshore
account with us.

The Audit Report(s) given to us, shows that you have been going
through hard times by paying a lot of money 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 since you do not have to pay any
money or fee to receive your funds as you have met up with the whole
funds transfer requirements.

The only thing required from you is to obtain the Non-Residential
Clearance Form 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.

Should you follow our directives, your funds will be credited and
reflect in your bank account within five (5) bank working days from
the day you obtain this Non-Residential Clearance Form.

For further details and assistance on issuance of the Non-Residential
Clearance Form, kindly forward your FULL NAME, FULL CONTACT ADDRESS,
DIRECT TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBER via email directly to the Accredited
Attorney Barr Carl Johnson. Email (barrcarljohnson@ymail.com) to
enable Barclays Bank credit your account immediately.

Yours truly,
Mrs. Sarah Smith
Head of Operations,
International Banking Division
Barclays Bank Plc, London
United Kingdom

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam