419 scam: "Carga La Paz" <info@admin.in.th> Attention Victim,

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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:
- "western union" (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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "economic and financial crimes commission" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "(efcc)" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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.
- +2347054385135 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Carga La Paz" <info@admin.in.th>
Reply-To: efcc.ng.home@admin.in.th
Date: Sat, 14 May 2011 13:22:39 -0400
Subject: Attention Victim,

--
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
15A Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Nigeria
www.efccnigeria.org

Attention Victim,
The Federal Government of Nigeria through provisions in Section 419 of the
Criminal Code came up with punitive measures to deter and punish
offenders. The Advance Fee Fraud section deal mainly with cases of advance
fee fraud(commonly called 419) such as obtaining by false pretence through
Different fraudulent schemes e.g. contract scam, credit card scam,
Inheritance scam, job scam, lottery scam, â€œ wash washâ€ scam
(money washing scam), marriage scam. Immigration scam, counterfeiting and
religious scam. It also investigates cyber crime cases.

After proper investigations and research at Western Union Money Transfer
and Money Gram office to know if you have truly sent money to fraudsters
in Nigeria through Western Union Money Transfer or Money Gram, your name
was found in Western Union Money Transfer database amongst those that have
sent money through Western Union Money Transfer to Nigeria and this proves
you right that you have truly been swindled by those unscrupulous persons
by sending money to them through Western Union Money Transfer in the
Course of getting one fund or the other that is not real, right now we are
Working hand in hand with Western Union to track every fraudster down, do
not respond to their e-mails, letters and phone calls any longer they are
Scammers and you should be very careful to avoid being a victim to
Fraudsters any longer because they have nothing to offer you but to
Rip-off what you have worked hard to earn

In this regard a meeting was held between the Board of Directors of The
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and as a consequence of
Our investigations it was agreed that the sum of hundred thousand dollar
(100.0000, 00) should be transferred to you out of the funds
That Federal Government of Nigeria has set aside as a compensation to
Everyone who have by one way or the other sent money to fraudsters in
Nigeria.

***Please note that we will NO LONGER be liable for any loss, cost or
Expense, whatsoever, suffered or incurred by you in connection with the
Fraudsters. Be warned!

We have deposited your fund at Western Union Money Transfer agent location
EMS Post office Lagos, Nigeria We have submitted your details to them so
that your fund can be transferred to you. We have insured your fund to
avoid misappropriation.

Contact the Management agent office through any of the email addresses
Stated below;
E-mail:efcc.ng.home@admin.in.th
Phone: +2347054385135

Yours sincerely,
Maureen Chigozie (Ms)
Internet Crime Complaint Center
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

**************************************************************************************************
Please note that some fraudsters are claiming to be the Executive
Chairman, Chief Mrs. Farida MzamberÂ Waziri (AIG rtd.) or staff of The
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have recently been sending phony
e-mails/letters and also calling unsuspecting persons, with intent to
defraud them. It is important to note that these fraudsters are criminals
engaged in Advanced Fee Fraud known in Nigeria as 419. Every day, people
throughout the world are falling victim to scams of one kind or another.
But remember - if it sounds too good to be true, it is probably a scam. In
the circumstance, we unreservedly advice you to dissociate yourself from
all correspondence and transactions entered into based on evidently
fraudulent and fictitious claims.
*************************************************************************************************

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam