419 scam: "EFCC FRAUD MONITORING UNIT"<info@info.com> ALERT!!! STOP FURTHER COMMUNICATIONS

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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. )
- "(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. )
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "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.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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 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.
- wu_pay0ut@post.com (Post; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "EFCC FRAUD MONITORING UNIT" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <alfredriwanne@yahoo.cn>
Date: Sat, 12 May 2012 07:46:34 -0400
Subject: ALERT!!! STOP FURTHER COMMUNICATIONS

Attn:

I am Agent Alfred Riwanne with the ECONOMIC & FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION (EFCC). The ECONOMIC & FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION in alliance with Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have been working towards the eradication of fraudsters and scam Artists in Western part of Africa With the help of United States Government and the United Nations.

We have been able to track down so many of this scam artist in various parts of west African countries which includes (NIGERIA, REPUBLIC OF BENIN, TOGO, GHANA CAMEROON AND SENEGAL) and they are all in our custody here in Lagos Nigeria. We have also arrested all those who claim that they are barristers, bank officials, Lottery Agents who has money for transfer or want you to be the next of kin. We have been able to recover so much money from these scam artists. The United Nation Anti-crime commission and the United State Government have ordered the money recovered from the people to be shared among 1000 Lucky people.

This email is being directed to you because your email address was found in one of the scam Artists file and computer hard disk in our custody here in Nigeria and with the information gathered from this scam artist, we noticed that you have been ripped of so much money and the organizing committee have decided to compensate you with a little token to recover the lost of your fund. You are therefore being compensated with the total sum $80,000 (Eighty Thousand United States Dollars).

Since your email appeared among the lucky beneficiaries who will receive a compensation of $80,000 (Eighty Thousand United States Dollars, we have made arrangement to provide secure money transfer through Western Union Money Transfer Office here in Lagos Nigeria and to avoid misappropriation, our workforce have been instructed to fully monitor the transfer process. Feel free to contact the Western Union agent office through the email addresses stated below for confirmation of your information for onward transfer.

Western Union Agent Officer : Mr. Mark Fisher
Email : wu_pay0ut@post.com

Contact Mr. Mark Fisher with your information to enable him start the processing of your payment.

We guarantee your safety and wish you the best of luck.

Best Regard,

Alfred Riwanne,
Investigation Officer.

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Please note that e-mails, letters and phone calls are currently been made to unsuspecting persons by fraudsters claiming to have access to their funds. Everyday, people throughout the world are falling victim to scams of one way or the other. It could be an unexpected prize draw or lottery win, or a chance to invest in an exciting new money-making or investment programme . In the circumstance, we unreservedly advice you to dissociate yourself from all correspondence and transactions entered into based on evidently fraudulent and fictitious claims.
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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam