419 scam: "EFCC FRAUD MONITORING UNIT" <efcc@efcc.org> NOTIFICATION!

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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. )
- "moneygram" (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. )
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.
MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a 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.
- +22998086415 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "EFCC FRAUD MONITORING UNIT" <efcc@efcc.org>
Reply-To: harrywilliams99@msn.com
Date: Sun, 15 May 2011 21:04:50 +0900 (JST)
Subject: NOTIFICATION!

--
Attention,

After proper and several investigations and research at Western Union and
MoneyGram Office, we found your name in Western Union database amongst
those that have sent money through Western Union to Benin Republic and
this proves that you have truly been swindled by those unscrupulous
persons by sending money to them through Western Union/MoneyGram 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 fraudsters down, do
not respond to their e-mails, letters and phone calls any longer as 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 earnestly hard to earn.

In this regard a meeting was held between the Board of Directors of The
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside with the
Ministry of Finance - Benin Republic and as a consequence of our
investigations it was agreed that the sum of sixty thousand US Dollars
(US$60,000.00) 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 Benin Republic.

***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 Portonovoh, Benin Republic.

We have submitted your details to them so that your fund can be
transferred to you. We have paid the Registration and Transfer fees and
for security reasons we have also insured your fund to avoid
misappropriation.

Contact the Western Union agent office through any of the email addresses
stated below;

Contact Person: Harry Williams
Contact Email : harrywilliams99@msn.com
Contact Phone : +229-9808 6415

Yours sincerely,
James Dobson,
Investigation Officer.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam