419 scam: "Hon.Dr.Cofi Mehnsa"<info_office@ecowas.og> THE PAYMENT IN QUESTION IS YOUR OUTSTANDING PAYMENT THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED AND

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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:
- "consignment " (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)
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Hon.Dr.Cofi Mehnsa" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ecowas1960@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2011 21:50:21 -0700
Subject: THE PAYMENT IN QUESTION IS YOUR OUTSTANDING PAYMENT THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED AND RELEASED FOR IMMEDIATE CASH PAYMENT.

DEAR SIR,

THE PAYMENT IN QUESTION IS YOUR OUTSTANDING PAYMENT THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED AND RELEASED FOR IMMEDIATE CASH PAYMENT.

IN VIEW OF SERIOUS COMPLAINS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITIES CONCERNING THE TREATMENT MELTED TO INTERNATIONAL CONTRACTORS, INHERRITANCE BENEFICIARIES AND OTHER ALLIED CLAIMS BY THE COUNTRIES OF THE SUB REGION( ECOWAS) COMPRISING NIGERIA, BENIN, COTE D'IVOIRE, GHANA, BURKINA-FASO,TOGO,SENEGAL,GAMBIA AND GABON RESPECTIVELY.

THE BODY (ECOWAS) IN ITS CAPACITY AS THE ONLY UNION POWER WITHIN THE REGION TO HANDLE THIS SITUATION AND CLEAR THE INTERNATIONAL IMAGE OF THE SUB REGION UNDER THE CHARTER ACTS LAW 101A AND IN AGREEMENT WITH THE HEADS OF STATES AND CENTRAL BANK GOVERNORS OF THE NATIONS MENTIONED ABOVE HAVE SET-UP THIS COUNCIL TO SINGLE HANDEDLY SCRUTINISE AND MAKE FINAL PAYMENTS IN RESPECT OF CONTRACTS,INHERRITANCE,OTHER ALLIED CLAIMS.

YOUR PAYMENT FILE IS NOW REFERRED TO THE ECOWAS PAYMENT & SUPERVISORY COUNCIL,HEADED BY HON. DR.COFI MEHNSA FOR EFFECTIVE SCRUTINY AND FINAL PAYMENT,ALL BENEFICIARIES ARE HEREBY ADVISED IN THEIR OWN INTEREST TO COME PERSONALLY TO COTONU BENIN REPUBLIC PLEASE I WOULD ALSO ADVISE YOU NOT TO TRAVEL WITH AIR FRANCE,YOU CAN TRAVEL TO COTONU WITH AIR MAROC OR KENYAN AIRWAYS,IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO NOTE THAT YOU MUST AS A MATTER OF URGENCY, LOCATE IN YOUR COUNTRY, THE OFFICES OF EITHER AIR MOROC OR KENYAN AIRWAYS. THESE AIRLINES DO OPERATE DIRECT AIR FLIGHTS TO COTONOU. MOREOVER, YOU DONT NEED AN ENTRY VISA TO BENIN REPUBLIC ONCE YOU BOARD ANY OF THESE AIRLINES BECAUSE AS SOON AS YOU ARRIVE AT THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN COTONOU, YOU WILL BE RECIEVED AT THE PRESIDENTIAL LOUNGE OF THE AIRPORT BY ME.

ALL AIRPORT PROTOCOL HAS ALREADY BEEN PUT IN PLACE TO RECEIVE YOU,THIS IS A SOLID ARRANGEMENT FOR VIP LIKE YOU.

AM ASSURING YOU THAT ALL YOUR PROBLEMS AS REGARDS THE PAYMENT OF YOUR FUNDS ARE OVER,WHILE WE ARE WAITING TO RECEIVE YOU AT THE COTONOU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT BY THE PRESIDENTIAL LOUNGE HOPEFULLY ON 29:08:2011, PLEASE ORGANIZE YOURSELF PROPERLY BEFORE COMING AND WE WILL ALLOW YOU TO SEE YOUR CONSIGNMENT BOX .

THIS IS OUR PROMISE TO YOU, YOU ARE VERY MUCH WELLCOME!!!.

REGARDS.

HON.DR.COFI MEHNSA
(EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GENERAL.)ECOWAS REGIONAL OFFICE,BENIN REPUBLIC.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam