419 scam: "E.F.C.C Chairman" <www.imf.uk1904@gmail.com> Motto: No Body is Above the Law

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "anti-terrorist 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. )
- "certificate 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. )
- "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. )
- "transfer into your account" (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)
- "i will advice you " (this email uses bad English)
- "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. )
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 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.
- efcc.agent.nnakavincent@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "E.F.C.C Chairman" <www.imf.uk1904@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Kannaugoson@qualityservice.com
Date: Mon, 1 Aug 2022 17:06:13 +0100
Subject: Motto: No Body is Above the Law

FROM ABDULRASHEED BAWA (EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN E.F.C.C DIRECTOR)
ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION
BENIN INVESTIGATION BUREAU
14A AWOLOWO LANE, IKOYI BENIN REPUBLIC
Motto: No Body is Above the Law.

Attn: Beneficiary:,

I am sick and tired of this constant problem with the FBI & IRS
concerning your outstanding fund of USD $9.7 million dollar which I
have being fighting tooth and nails to make sure you receive this fund
but you have been thinking that I am there to swindle you.

I told you earlier that I was suppose to travel to South Africa last
MONTH for a meeting with other top Government officials but because of
this transfer matter of yours, I decided to defer my trip till next
week.

Right now, I will advice you follow my last and final instructions
because the bank have agreed to make the transfer today & tomorrow
morning to you. before 24 HOURS, I made the bank understand that you
will not be able to come up with the fees they required of you due to
financial problems and others. I also made them understand that you
have paid scores of fees to various individuals concerning this issue,

so my final conclusion with the bank was that they will make the
transfer tomorrow without the clearance certificate fee but since you
have paid for the insurance fee, you're only advice to secure your
fund from being tempered by the FBI/ OR IRS by obtaining an
Anti-Terrorist Certificate which will serve you as the clearance
certificate but more cheaper and easier to obtain. This certificate
will cost you just $98 dollar therefore, I will advice you send the
$98 dollar today so I can obtain Anti-Terrorist Certificate tomorrow
morning so you can receive your fund before 3.00 P.M tomorrow. Choose
the payment mode from this options;(1) by online banking transfer into
your account; 2) By ATM card delivery; 3) By cash payment delivery to
your address; Let me know your choice and forward the fees include
the needful information to suit your option.

Finally, hope you know I have tried my best so far in this issue so I
will advice you compensate me with something nice as soon as you
receive this fund tomorrow.Payment instruction below to send the $98
dollar via Western Union or Money Gram, Money Transfer;

Due contact agent Mr.Nnaka Vin and send the MTCN number to him
through his personal e-mail(efcc.agent.nnakavincent@gmail.com) for the
information you will
use to send the needed fee of $98 dollar

Note: Those scores of fraudsters have been using my name and that of
other top Government Officials in swindling most fund beneficiaries. I
use this medium to inform you that any mail that do not come with our
reference code: EFCC/NG/74-A0807777HJ/BR is false.

One more time be warned and careful the type of e-mail you reply. I am
waiting for your e-mail.

Best Regards,
Abdulrasheed Bawa,
(E.F.C.C Chairman)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam