419 scam: POLICE FORCE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT <pmccool2001@yahoo.co.uk> POLICE FORCE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT

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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:
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "terrorist clearance certificate" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million united states 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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 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. )
- "my direct telephone number" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
- "abuja" (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 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.
- +2348079483793 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: POLICE FORCE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT <pmccool2001@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: kumortdon@yahoo.ca
Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2011 02:47:04 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: POLICE FORCE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT

NIGERIAN POLICE FORCE.
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT.
FORCE HEADQUARTERS
LEWIS EDET HOUSE.
GARKI 11 ABUJA.
NIGERIA

Attention Beneficiary,

Due to the economic meltdown in the global World, The Nigerian Police Force In-conjunction with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission - EFCC has created an electronic transfer system called prepaid ATM Visa Card, which will be loaded your Ten Million United States Dollars therein and will be send to you immediately on the receipt of your email response to us.

Also; be informed that why you have not receive your inheritance funds with the Nigerian Government is due to your inability to produce the below listed Documentations to back up your ATM VISA CARD delivery which once you can adhere to this final VET to your fund release order, you will immediately receive your ATM VISA CARD.

Here are the Documents needed to be obtained:

1) Fund Ownership Clearance Certificate
2) Anti-Terrorist Clearance Certificate

Further more; note that the ATM VISA CARD will be coming to you with the PIN ACCESS CODE which is (9021), how ever to obtain the said documents will cost you the sum of US$150.00.

So immediately we receive the stated fee today within the next two days the ATM VISA CARD will be at your Door Step, so all we need from you is your Full Name and Mailing address/House Address were you want the ATM VISA CARD to be delivered.

You will operate your ATM VISA CARD across the globe, more details will be given to you, when you response to this email. We now understand your situation and will want to make everything easier for you to regain your financial freedom, so do not hesitate to adhere to these instructions for your own good.

Please kindly call me using my direct telephone number: +2348079483793 for more details.

Base on money-laundering and fraudulent art that is going on all over the world now, We The Nigerian Police and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission - EFCC has set a Monetary Group called International Monetary Group In conjunction with F.B.I and Inter-Pole of British to monitor any foreign transfer which is above (1,000,000,000.00), As terrorism, drug trafficking and money laundering is a serious problem in our community today. The Nigerian Police and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission - EFCC will not stop at any length in tracking down and prosecuting any criminal who indulge in this criminal act.

AIG IVY UCHE OKORONKWO NPM, mni
The Assistant Inspector
General of Police
AIG in-charge of Zone

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam