419 scam: "Mr Samuel wole" <info@effcc.org> ECONOMIC & FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION (EFCC).

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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:
- "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. )
- "moneygram" (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. )
- "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)
- "samuelwole@yahoo.cn" (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.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Samuel wole" <info@effcc.org>
Reply-To: samuelwole@yahoo.cn
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2013 06:02:25 -0500
Subject: ECONOMIC & FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION (EFCC).

Attn Beneficiary:

I am Agent Katherine Winstine with the 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 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) and they are all in our custody
here in Lagos Nigeria. We have also arrested all those who claim that they
are barristers, bank officials who has money for transfer or want you to
be the next of kin. After proper investigations, a meeting was held by the
Board of Directors of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),
it was agreed that the sum of $80,000 (Eighty Thousand United States
Dollars) should be transferred to you out of the funds that Federal
Government of Nigeria has set aside as a compensation to everyone who have
by one way or the other sent money to fraudsters in Nigeria.

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 gathered from this scam artist, we
noticed that you may have been ripped of so much money and the organizing
committee have decided to compensate you with a little token to recover
the lost of your fund. You are therefore being compensated with the total
sum $80,000 (Eighty Thousand United States Dollars).

We have made arrangement to provide secure money transfer through Western
Union Money Transfer and MoneyGram Office here in Lagos Nigeria to avoid
misappropriation. Our workforce have been instructed to fully oversee the
transfer process for security reasons. Feel free to contact the redemption
office through the email addresses stated below for confirmation of your
information for onward transfer.

Redemption Officer : Wole Samuel
contact number:2348100769033
Email : samuelwole@yahoo.cn
Contact Wole Samuel with your information to enable him commence the
processing of your payment.

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

Best Regard,

Katherine Winstine,
Investigation Officer.

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Please note that e-mails, letters and phone calls are currently been made
to unsuspecting persons by fraudsters claiming to have access to their
funds. Everyday, people throughout the world are falling victim to scams
of one way or the other. It could be an unexpected prize draw or lottery
win, or a chance to invest in an exciting new money-making or investment
program. In the circumstance, 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