419 scam: office file <ecowas211@gmail.com> ATTENTION:

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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:
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "transfer into your account" (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)
- "my direct line" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
- "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.
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.
- +22967553081 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- beningovnment2355@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: office file <ecowas211@gmail.com>
Reply-To: beningovnment2355@yahoo.fr
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2012 13:43:43 +0100 (BST)
Subject: ATTENTION:

ATTENTION:

I AM WRITING TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOUR ACCOUNT DETAILS HAS BEEN PROGRAMMED IN THE BANK'S TELEX ROOM DUE TO THE GLOBAL AND FINANCIAL ECONOMIC MELTDOWN. YOU WERE SELECTED GLOBALLY AS ONE OF THE BENEFICIARIES,

THAT IS THE REASON WHY YOU ARE RECEIVING THIS NOTIFICATION,AND WE ARE ONLY TO PAY BENEFICIARIES ONCE THEY MEET UP WITH THEIR FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS FOR IMMEDIATE WIRE TRANSFER INTO YOUR ACCOUNT TODAY BUT THE BANK NEED INSURANCE COVERAGE FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY WHICH WILL COST YOU ONLY $389 FOR THE BANK TO OBTAIN THE INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR THE SAFETY OF YOUR TRANSFER BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY THEY CAN TRANSFER SUCH HUGE AMOUNT $26MILLION WITHOUT INSURANCE COVERAGE BUT I HAVE DEPOSITED $250 WITH THEM TO START THE PROCESSING SO YOU HAVE TO SEND THE BALANCE OF $139 IMMEDIATELY YOU FINISH READING THIS E-MAIL TO COMPLETE THE INSURANCE FEES OF $320 TO ENABLE THE BANK TO OBTAIN THE INSURANCE COVERAGE CERTIFICATE TO WIRE YOUR FUNDS TO HIT YOUR BANK ACCOUNT WITHIN 24HOURS.

THEREFORE, YOU HAVE TO SEND THE REMAINING $139 .00 FOR THE INSURANCE COVERAGE FEE IMMEDIATELY YOU RECEIVE THIS E-MAIL AND FORWARD THE MTCN FOR CONFIRMATION AS OTHER DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN SIGNED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WAITING FOR THE INSURANCE COVERAGE FEE FOR YOUR WIRE TRANSFER TO COMMENCE TODAY AND HIT YOUR BANK ACCOUNT.

ONCE AGAIN NOTE THE BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS AS STATED BELOW WAS FORWARD BY MR LARRY O. BUSBY TO RECEIVE YOUR PAYMENT SO LET US KNOW AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS E-MAIL IF YOU AUTHORIZED THE BELOW ACCOUNT DETAILS TO RECEIVE YOUR PAYMENT IF NOT THEN FORWARD YOUR BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS WITH YOUR ID IMMEDIATELY AND SEND THE $139.00 SO THAT YOUR FUNDS WILL BE WIRE INTO YOUR ACCOUNT FOR YOUR CONFIRMATION WITHIN 24HOURS.

Bank Name: Citizens Savings Bank
address: 1725 Sullivan Drive : Bogalusa, Louisiana 70427
Account Name: Larry O. Busby
Account Number: 16509551604
Routing Number: 265270138

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU SEND THE $139 TODAY BECAUSE I WILL BE IN THE BANK TO ENSURE THAT YOUR WIRE TRANSFER COMMENCE IMMEDIATELY YOU SEND THE REMAINING $139.00 FOR THE INSURANCE COVERAGE FEE AND I WILL FORWARD THE TELEX COPY TO YOU FOR YOUR CONFIRMATION.

USE THIS INFORMATION TO SEND THE $139.00 IMMEDIATELY AND GET BACK TO ME WITH THE PAYMENT INFO'S.

RECEIVER NAME: MR ONYEAKA A. JAMES.

COUNTRY: BENIN
CITY: COTONOU
QUESTION: WHAT FOR?
ANSWER: PAYMENT
MTCN#...........?
SENDER NAME...........
amount..........$139
I ANTICIPATE YOUR URGENT ACTION ON THIS TO FINALIZE THE TRANSFER OF YOUR FUND ONCE AND FOR ALL.
REGARDS,
KENNETH WILCOX,
PAYMENT DIRECTOR,
PRESIDENCY.
MY DIRECT LINE; +229 67553081
Email( beningovnment2355@yahoo.fr)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam