419 scam: The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC <deskofficiall@sify.com> Please do not send them more than $94.

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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:
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "cotonou" (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 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.
- info.westernunionmtransferbj@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC <deskofficiall@sify.com>
Reply-To: efccofficebjj@yandex.com
Date: Mon, 19 Nov 2012 11:06:39 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Please do not send them more than $94.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
15A Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, COTONOU.
Benin Republic
http://www.efccbenin.org
Attention Victim.

Please
let this office know if you have contact the Western union money
transfer. Please note that your total amount to receive is $30,000,
your first installment payment is $5,000, and i have just contacted the
western union office now and they said that the fee to activate your
name as the receivers is $94 only. so please do not send them more than $94. kindly contact Mr. Williams Egobiah Via email: info.westernunionmtransferbj@yahoo.fr
As soon as you comply & send him the requirement, kindly contact me to let me know.
Waiting to hear from you soon.

Yours sincerely,
Ibrahim Lamorde,
Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

****************************** ****************************** ****************************** ********
Please
note that some fraudsters are claiming to be the Executive Chairman,
Ibrahim Lamorde or staff of The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
have recently been sending phony e-mails/letters and also calling
unsuspecting persons, with intent to defraud them. It is important to
note that these fraudsters are criminals engaged in advance fee fraud.
People throughout the world are falling victim to scams of various
kinds. But remember - if it sounds too good to be true, it is probably a
scam. In view of these, we unreservedly advice you to dissociate
yourself from all correspondence and transactions entered into based on
evidently fraudulent and fictitious claims.
****************************** ****************************** ****************************** ********

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam