419 scam: "BARCLAYS BANK PLC." <off--g80@att.net> INSTRUCTION TO CREDIT YOUR BANK ACCOUNT WITH US$12,500,000.00

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "clearance certificate" (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 send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "tax clearance" (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 send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "clearance certificate" (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 send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- ",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)
- "here in united kingdom" (this email uses bad English)
- "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "tax clearance" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- +447011136473 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- barclaystransdept65@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "BARCLAYS BANK PLC." <off--g80@att.net>
Reply-To: barclaystransdept65@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2011 08:53:25 -0800 (PST)
Subject: INSTRUCTION TO CREDIT YOUR BANK ACCOUNT WITH US$12,500,000.00

BARCLAYS BANK PLC.
CLAPHAM JUNCTION BRANCH,
7 ST JOHNS HILL,
SW 11 1 TN, LONDON,
UNITED KINGDOM.
+447011136473.

INSTRUCTION TO CREDIT YOUR BANK ACCOUNT WITH US$12,500,000.00

Attention: Beneficiary,

After due vetting and evaluation of your Inheritance file which The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in conjunction with the Ministry Of Finance Of the Federal Republic of Nigeria contacted and forwarded to us to see to your immediate payment of the sum of US$12,500,000.00 from their Offshore account with us. We were meant to understand from our findings that you have been going through hard ways to see to the release of your fund (US$12,500,000.00) which has been delayed.

The only thing required from you is to obtain Non-Residence Tax Clearance Certificate 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 of your payment with other customers. We will help you to see that you obtain the certificate so that we will effect immediate transfer of your over-due inheritance/contract payment (US$12,500,000.00 ) into your designated bank account.

If you follow up our directives, your fund will reflect in your account within five Bank working days from the day you obtain this Certificate. Do not go through anybody again but through this Bank if you really want your fund.

Kindly get in touch with me by email(barclaystransdept65@hotmail.com) or phone (+447011136473) for further clarification.

Finally, you are advised to forward to this bank a copy of your international passport or your driver's licence, your direct telephone number and your receiving account.

Your's faithfully,
Dr. John Billy,
Head, Private Banking Section,
Barclays Bank Plc, London,
United Kingdom.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam