419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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. )
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "info@ecowasbankofafricaplc.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.
- +22998140969 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: al.m@one.co.il
Reply-To: info@ecowasbankplc.tk
Date: Sat, 31 Mar 2012 20:06:52 -0400
Subject: RE:CONTACT ECOWAS BANK ONLINE DEPARTMENT FOR YOUR ONLINE DEPOSITED
($12.8m).

Dear Customer,

Be inform that all document in regards to your claims and for online deposit of your total sum is on desk with online department of this bank, ECOWAS BANK OF AFRICA.total sum $12.8m, is what we have for you in our bank now, and our online department effect deposit of the fund and ECOWAS BANK online bank account customer link and your EOCWAS BANK ONLINE account will be release to you for your online access.

Our online account customer link/account number and password will lead you through to check your account balance by using your online account login access information which we will be send to you, and you can perform online transfer from your online account to any bank account of your choice through your ECOWAS BANK online account LOGIN access. while you will required to comply with online transfer pin code activation as that will enable you effect online transfer of fund from your ECOWAS BANK online account to any bank account of your choice nation wide.

But at the moment you are requested to reconfirm your full contact information's, full name's, located address and contact cell/telephone number for easy communication.

ECOWAS BANK online account will be release to you on receipt of the required information's, as the information's will confirm your true ownership.

However you will have to be inform that you will pay to ECOWAS BANK online management the fee for activation of your online transfer code, and you will do that after you confirm your access to your ECOWAS BANK online account.

So as soon as we acknowledge above required information's from you we will release your customer online account link to you,while wait to receive the fee for online transfer pin code activation, since that will enable you conduct your transfer online from your ECOWAS BANK online account.

Contact our online head department DR.ALEXANDRA GREEN. Tel: +229-98140969 or E-mail: info@ecowasbankofafricaplc.tk, upon confirmation of online transfer pin code activation fee, we will directly release to you your active pin for your online transfer.

We will look forward to hear from you.

Yours Faithful,

Mr. Micheal Alfred

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam