419 scam: "EFCC INVESTIGATION UNIT"<christine@mail.ehbm.com.tw> ATTENTION STOP ALL FURTHER TRANSACTIONS

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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:
- "million 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)
- "hundred thousand 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. )
- "(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. )
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "efcc_nigeria11@qq.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "EFCC INVESTIGATION UNIT" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wu_reimbursement@yeah.net>
Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2015 06:17:50 -0800
Subject: ATTENTION STOP ALL FURTHER TRANSACTIONS

Dear Beneficiary:

I am Dr.Sarah Dada with the Financial Intelligence Unit of ECONOMIC & FINANCIAL CRIMES 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 Con Artists in Western part of Africa With the help of the INTERPOL and the United Nation.

We have been able to track down so many of this Con 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. After proper investigations, we were able to recover some cash at hand and bank which were supposed to be remitted to you but weren't due to greed. These funds are now being retrieved and will be delivered to intended recipient. We also found a computer hard drive containing your email content and that of other victims. We at the zenith of affairs of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the United Nations Representatives in Nigeria have agreed that the total sum of USD68.4M (Sixty Eight Million, Four Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only) be shared among the 342 email contacts found on the fraudster’s hard drive.

This email is being directed to you because your email address was found in one of the Con Artist's Scrap file in the computer hard drive in our custody here in Nigeria. You are therefore being compensated with the total sum $1,000,000.00 (ONE MILLION DOLLARS).

We have made arrangement to provide secure Money transfer through internationally renowned Money Transfer Merchant Head quarters here in Lagos Nigeria to avoid misappropriation. Our workforce has been instructed to fully oversee the transfer process for security reasons.

Feel free to Contact the Head of Operations through the email addresses stated below for Confirmation of your information;
Contact Name : Bryan Wilson
Email: efcc_nigeria11@qq.com

Contact Mr. Bryan Wilson with your information to enable him commences the processing of your payment to avoid any delay in processing.
Best Regard,
Dr. Dr.Sarah Dada,
Director of Foreign Affairs.
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
15A Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos. Nigeria.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam