419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "farida mzamber 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. )
- "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. )
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.
- thenigeriaefcc@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Chief Mrs. Farida Mzamber Waziri (AIG rtd.)"
<hr@mail.yamoffice.yam.com>
Reply-To: <thenigeriaefcc@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 22 Oct 2011 19:08:32 -0500
Subject: ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION (EFCC)

ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION (EFCC)
FROM THE DESK OF: Chief Mrs. Farida Mzamber Waziri (AIG rtd.)
EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN
(WE ARE AT YOUR SERVICE)
CABLEGRAM: NAPTCOR
Website: www.efccnigeria.org

Attn:Humble Beneficiary,

My Name is Mrs Farida Waziri the new Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission chairperson in Nigeria.

I understand you are expecting your delayed fund to be wired to your
bank account, but some top government officials and bank partners will
not tell you the truth about the whereabouts of your fund and all they
are doing is to tell you to pay outrageous fees which you refused to
come up with, but I will not do that based on my conscience and that
is why I have contacted you to let you know the truth because i know
you have gone far in trying to get this fund and must have paid some
amounts of monies to persons you are not supposed to give out a dime
to.

They are too much scam now in African i was so happy
to tell you that your funds have been transfer to Malaysia As soon as you
get back to me i will tell you how to contact there office in Malaysia
,and please for your own good forget anything about Africa is fool of Scam.

I will be ready to help you get your fund but you have to help me keep
it a secret to enable me help in delivering your fund as the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission principal officer. You better believe
me or forget contacting me again but i know that they will never tell
you the truth because they are all thieving criminals.

Get back to me and i will tell you the possible way to get your fund
delivered to you without the consent of anyone, i know God will reward
me after all. I expect your prompt response

Regards,
Chief Mrs. Farida Mzamber Waziri (AIG rtd.)
EFCC Executive Chairman,
thenigeriaefcc@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam