419 scam: "Mrs. Farida Waziri" <officeupdate30@yahoo.com.ph> Attn:

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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:
- "account opening" (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. )
- "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)
- "(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. )
- "farida waziri" (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.
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.
- mrsmariainvestors@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Farida Waziri" <officeupdate30@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: mrsmariainvestors@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 5 Nov 2011 14:17:04 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Attn:

ECONOMIC & FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION

(EFCC) FOREIGN OPERATIONS DEPT,

Attn: Beneficiary,

I am Mrs. Farida Waziri the chairman of ECONOMIC & FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION (EFCC). EFCC in alliance with economic community of West African states (ECOWAS) with head Office here in Nigeria. We 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, EVEN ASIA AND LONDON) and they are all in our custody here in Lagos Nigeria.

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 Scammers to be shared among 100 Lucky people around the globe.

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 gardened from this Scam artist, we notice that you have been scammed of so much money and have decided to compensate you you with a little token to recover the lost of your fund. You are therefore being compensated with the total sum $3.5 Million Dollars. 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 of such funds which does not exist.

Since your name appeared among the lucky beneficiaries who will receive a compensation of US$3.5 Million, we have made arrangement to Transfer the fund through wire transfer which you cannot pay any transfer fee or cost rather you will only open none resident account with the transfer bank , where you will have full access to the Account you open where the US$3.5 Million will be deposited before final transfer to your account in your country through your order.

Feel free to contact the processing officer Mrs. Maria Beverly with your provided informationâ€™s required for verification below.

CONTACT PERSON: MRS MARIA BEVERLY

CONTACT EMAIL ADDRESS: mrsmariainvestors@yahoo.com

Provide the information bellow to enable the processing of your payment / opening of the account through the transfer bank [FIDELITY BANK PLC TAKE PLACE].

1)YOUR FULL NAME.

2)YOUR ADDRESS.

3)YOUR CELL NUMBER.

4)YOUR OCCUPATION

5)YOUR IDENTITY.

6) COUNTRY

Contact Mrs. Maria Beverly with the information required for verification to enable him start the processing of your Account opening.

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

Best Regard,

Mrs. Farida Waziri

CHAIRMAN ECONOMIC & FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION

(EFCC) FOREIGN OPERATIONS DEPT, NIGERIA PLC,

LAGOS-NIGERIA.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam