419 scam: "yusuf"<efccnegoffice@yahoo.com.hk> IS THIS TRUE?

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million dollars" (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)
- "economic and financial crime 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. )
- "farida waziri" (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.
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.
- efccnigeriasafe@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "yusuf" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <efccoficenigeria@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2011 23:33:44 +0100
Subject: IS THIS TRUE?

NIGERIA INVESTIGATION BUREAU
14A AWOLOWO LANE, IKOYI
LAGOS NIGERIA.
Motto: No Body is Above the LAW

FROM THE DESK OF Mr.Musa yusuf: (Assistance).

FOR: ECONOMIC & FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION (EFCC).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MOTTO: NO BODY IS ABOVE THE LAW :

I, am Mr.Musa yusuf: (ASSISTANCE) Economic And Financial Crime Commission, a committee set up by the Federal Government of Nigeria under the able President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan..The purpose of the committee among other is to investigate, verify and settle all outstanding debts owned to foreign contractors whose payment is overdue.

Consequently, we received a directive from the office of the president, ordering the above office to settle all genuine contractors whose debts has been outstanding for a long time now. and for those that shown sufficient proof regarding the release of their fund, And we wish to inform you that in our record here, you have fulfilled such conditions as the rightful beneficiary of the said $22.8Million Dollars.

But the reasons why your own Transfer has to be delayed is because, there is presently a counter claims on your funds by one MR.JOHN WHEELER,

Who is presently trying to make us believe that you are dead and even explained that you entered into an agreement with him, to help you in receiving your fund, So here comes the big question? Did you sign any Deed of Assignment in favor of (JOHN WHEELER). Thereby making him the current beneficiary with his following account details: MR JOHN WHEELER, AC/NUMBER: 6503809428. ROUTING/122006743, B/NAME:CITI

BANK, ADDRESS:NEW YORK,USA.

Please if you did not sign, nor authorize MR.JOHN WHEELER to receive your payment on your behalf, kindly reconfirm to us, for your urgent release the Premium immediately, Please Reconfirm your genuine ADDRESS (information) ! your bank information were you want this payment to be transferred including your phone number for verification Or call us, to avoid making payment to a wrong person, attempt to divert your payment to a new account without your knowledge.

This office is glad to inform you that your payment shall be made as soon as we receive your feedback of claim/release today. We are sorry to inform you that the Federal Government had made it clear to all foreign contractors whose payment is overdue to be paid immediately hence all the modality relating to the release of your contract fund had been completed today. You are advised to stop any further communication with any department Or any Government parastatal.This is to forestall new effort towards a diversion of your payment.

We apologies on behalf of the President and the good citizens of this country Nigeria for any delay and lost this most have coursed you and promise that such thing will not happen again. And if you are dealing with any of the hoodlum regarding this payment Or any transfer from this country,

Please we urge you to STOP, because your funds in the total sum $22,800.000(Twenty Two Million Eight Hundred United States Dollars) AND all expenses which you must have lost, was recently approved by the Presidency and here with this Investigation Bureau (EFCC)here in Nigeria to be settled.

Kindly reply urgently today for more information and directive on the E-mail: efccnigeriasafe@yahoo.com.hk

We wait your concern and action of claim to this regards.

Best Regards

Mr.Musa yusuf: (Assistance)
Mrs.Farida Waziri: (Chairman) Economic And Financial Crime Commission.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam