419 scam: "EFCC Care-Center Intelligence-Monitoring Network"<efcc_care@live.com> Please this notice is for your interest so confirm immediately.

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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:
- ",500,000" (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)
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "nigeria national petroleum corporation" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
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.
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.
- +2348132649826

Fraud email example:

From: "EFCC Care-Center Intelligence-Monitoring Network" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <efcccarecenter@yahoo.cn>
Date: Wed, 8 Jun 2011 11:39:40 +1000
Subject: Please this notice is for your interest so confirm immediately.

Attention Fund Beneficiary,

This is to bring to your notice that our Care Center Intelligence-Monitoring Network and in collaboration with Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) office in Nigeria has carried an investigation that clears you as the true beneficiary of $10,500,000.00Millionusd being an inheritance payment from late George W. Wilson who was a contractor with the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporations before his death, according to his lawyer (Barrister Williams Saraki) he reported that one John Wheeler came with the pretense that you are incapacitated or dead already but that you made him your next of kin to the said money above.

Anyway, we write to inform you here that the impostor who in pretense came as your next of kin has been arrested for impersonation and attempt for fraud but before we take him to the court for further prosecution and for possible jail sentence, you are advice to confirm your knowledge with him (John Wheeler), did you in any way permitted him to become your next of kin to the $10.5millionusd being a contract and inheritance payment to you? If not so then get back with a reconfirmation of your full contact details as stated below so as to allow Barrister Williams Saraki to register the check which is a certified bank draft for delivery to you.

Your full name:
Full contact address:
Direct phone number:
Age, Sex, Status etc:

We hope this is well understood as we anticipate your full corporations soon.

Yours faithfully,

Inspector Harris Onyema
(Director of operations)
Tel: +234 813 264 9826. (Call me for any clarification)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam