419 scam: "ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION (EFCC)" <unation79@yahoo.pt> ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION (EFCC)

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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "clearance fee" (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. )
- "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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "mtcn" (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 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. )
- "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.
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 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.
- +2348035823713 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION (EFCC)" <unation79@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To:
"ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION (EFCC)" <efcc.nigeria2013@yahoo.es>
Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2014 13:46:37 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION (EFCC)

Â NIGERIAN ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION (EFCC)
CONTACT PERSON: MR.IBRAHIM LAMORDE
OFFICE ADDRESS: 72 WESTERN AVENUE VICTORIA ISLAND LAGOS NIGERIA

NIGERIAN FOREIGN PAYMENT INVESTIGATION AGENCY

This is to inform you that I came to Nigeria yesterday from London,after series of complains from the FBI and other Security agencies from Asia, Europe, Oceania, Antarctica,South America and the United States of America respectively, against the Federal Government of Nigeria and the British Government for the rate of scam activities going on in these two nations.

I have met with President Dr Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria who claimed that he has been trying his best to make sure you receive your fund in your account. Right now,as directed by our secretary general Mr.Ban Ki-Moon, We are working in collaborations with the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and has authorize the Government of Nigeria to effect the payment of your compensation of an amount of (US$10,5000,000,00) as approved by both the British government and the UN in your favor without any delay.

Right now, as directed by our secretary general Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, We are working in collaborations with the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and have decided to waive away all your clearance fees/Charges and authorize the Government of Nigeria to effect the payment of your compensation of an amount of (US$10,5000,000,00) approved by both the British government and the UN into your account without any delay. The only fee you will pay to confirm your fund in your account is your Notarization fee to the EFCC and the cost of the Notarization fee is $55.

Sincerely, you are a lucky person because I have just discovered that some top Nigerian and British Government Officials are interested in your fund and they are working in collaboration with One Mr.Richard Graves from USA to frustrate you and thereafter divert your fund into their personal account. And you have to send me your telephone number so that i will call you and give you more information And also i will like you to call me with my number +2348035823713 call as soon as you received this mail.

NOTE: You have been warned to STOP every communication you have with anyone as regards to your approved fund because all these while, they have not been able to help you to receive your fund so for your best interest, STOP every communication you have with whoever you have been dealing with and work with me so that you will receive your fund within 72 banking hours, here is the information to send the $55 via western union or money gram money transfer

RECEIVERS NAME: IBEAWUCHI CHIBUZO
ADDRESS: LAGOS/NIGERIA
TEXT QUESTION: URGENT
ANSWER: URGENT
SENDER'S NAME:#................
MTCN:#........................ .............

I have a very limited time to stay in Nigeria here so I would like you to urgently respond to this message so that I can advise you on how best to receive your fund within the next 72 hours.

Yours sincerely,

IBRAHIM LAMORDE
ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION (EFCC)
Office Address: 72 western avenue victoria Island Lagos Nigeria.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam