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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Andrew Dey" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <andrewdey@live.com>
Date: Sat, 11 Jun 2011 19:42:23 -0700
Subject: Re:11:06:2011

Barclay Bank London
Foreign Head of Operations Department
Registered Office: 1 Churchill Place,
London E14 5HP.United Kingdom
Tell#:+44-702-409-2685
Fax #:+44-844-774-3648

Dear Sir,

This is to inform you that the Barclays Bank London has received an irrevocable payment instruction order form the World Bank instructing this institution to debit their Reserve Trust Account and credit you with the sum of $10,000,000.00 (Ten Million United States Dollars Only) due to you as your inheritance benefit. With a payment code: WEX/2054/XXVI-175076/VOL IV

This decision was made by the recent meeting of World Bank based on the monetary restriction policy that was introduced by the United States Government and International Monetary Fund (IMF) on funds emanating from Africa, Asia and Middle East.
Prior to this, we have also received a counter instruction from your Lawyer/partner that the said funds should be credited to the account stated below:

BENEFICIARY BANK AND ADDRESS
CHASE BANK
KELLY BRYAN
201 SOUTH WATER STREET
ELLENSBURG WASHINGTON
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 4126330111
SORT CODE: 123070760
PURPOSE OF PAYMENT: INHERITANCE

We urge you to immediately confirm this instruction or after 24hours form now the Barclay bank will effect transfer earnestly to the above stated account and discharge our duties accordingly.
Finally, feel free to reach me on the email address stated for confirmation. Email: andrewdey@live.com

Best regards

Andrew Dey
Foreign Head of Operations
Barclays Bank London

Anti-fraud resources: