419 scam: "BARCLAYS BANK PLC" <infoofficedep@btinternet.com> URGENT INFORMATION

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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "fbntransferfunddepartment@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2348081106994 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "BARCLAYS BANK PLC" <infoofficedep@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: <inf0.remittance.fdv@live.com>
Date: Sat, 17 Jul 2010 06:26:46 -0700
Subject: URGENT INFORMATION

BARCLAYS BANK PLC.

4 OPEBI IKEJA, LAGOS,

NIGERIA.

MR, JOHN WHITE

MANAGING DIRECTOR

BARCLAYS BANK PLC.

EMAIL (www._bnk_transfer@live.com)

Tele +234-8081-106-994

Dear Sir/Madam,

We receive the shock news of a near fatal accident that left you with a broken spinal cord which impaired your ability to hear and speak.

In order words, we have been officially informed that you are now invalid, deaf and dumb arising from a motor accident which damaged your spinal cord.

This information was provided to us by Mr JOHN T KOHOE of california and your your Nigerian Lawyer appointed to oversee your transaction fund value $5,000,0000 united state dollars.

Furthermore, the Lawyer presents us a set of documents to portray that you have willed your funds to him and has given him a Power of Attorney to take over your transaction and claim your outstanding funds accordingly.

In view of the sympathetic and sensible nature of this report, we are obliged to confirm this from you before taking action in favour of your Lawyer by wiring the funds to his chosen bank account as well as sympathize with you.

Please confirm the validity of this report and state clearly whether you are invalid, deaf and dumb arising from your auto accident.

To further convince us that you authorize the very persons to claim the fund , I would prefer you call me immediately on +234-8081-106-994 as soon as you receive this message otherwise, we would have no choice but to act according to your Will.

Expecting to receive your call and email on (FBNTRANSFERFUNDDEPARTMENT@LIVE.COM)

P.S. Please try as much as posible to reach me today to ascertain if I should make the transfer to his account or not.

Yours faithfully,

Mr. John White

Head of Finance

Barclays Bank Plc.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam