419 scam: "Mr. Micheal Alfred"<office.file@xtra.co.nz> Re. Contact ECOWAS BANK OF AFRICA online department for your approved (US$4.500

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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:
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "we advice you" (this email uses bad English)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "info@ecowasbankplc.tk" (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.
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.
- +22997811829 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Micheal Alfred" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info@ecowasbankplc.tk>
Date: Wed, 7 Sep 2011 14:25:03 +0200
Subject: Re. Contact ECOWAS BANK OF AFRICA online department for your approved (US$4.500.000).

Dear Customer,

Be inform that all related document's concerned for approval of your fund for online deposit with ECOWAS BANK OF AFRICA, has been confirmed from the International Monetary Fund, and original balance we have for you in our bank now is $4.5M,

which we will effect the deposit and release to you our online banking statement of account customer link for confirmation after we
complete your online account registration form link below.

Be advice to fill in the required information's.

First Name*:================================
Last Name*:
State of Origin*:============================
Nationality*:================================
Passport No*:
National ID Card NO.*:==========================
Phone Number*:==================================
Fax Number*:====================================
Cell / Mobile No.*:=============================
Marital Status*:=================================
Gender*:=========================================
Birthday*:=======================================
Indicate Your Address*:=========================

Residential Address

City*:==========================================
State*:=========================================
Country*:=======================================
Zip / Postal Code*:============================
Office Address*:===============================
Email Address*:================================
Confirm Email Address*:========================
Password*:=====================================

Existing Account At Place of Residence

Account Name*:===============================
Account Number*:=============================
Bank Name*:=================================
City*:======================================
State*:=====================================
Country*:===================================
Zip / Postal Code*:=========================
Preferred Currency For Account*:============

Once on acknowledgement of the above information's we will release to you your online account access information's that will lead you through to check your online account statement, and you can perform online transfer from your online account to
bank account of your choice through your ECOWAS BANK OF AFRICA online account access.

Be inform that in other to confirm your online transfer from your online account you will need activation of your online transfer pin code.

So we advice you to Contact our online head department Dr.Alexandra Green, on below info:

Conatct Person: Dr.Alexandra Green
Contact Tel no: +229-97811829
E-mail: info@ecowasbankplc.tk

Contact with the information's required above for immediate release of your online account login access,
while you will be allow to transfer fund from your online account Upon confirmation of online transfer pin code activation fee, we will directly release to you your active pin for successful online fund transfer confirmation.

I will wait to hear from you.
Yours Faithful,
Mr. Micheal Alfred

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam