419 scam: "Dr.Koffi Mensar"<infowecwasfoocei@gmail.com> FROM ECOWAS OFFICE

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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:
- "clearance document" (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. )
- "accredited attorney" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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: "Dr.Koffi Mensar" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info@ecowas-office.cu.cc>
Date: Fri, 27 Sep 2013 07:53:25 -0700
Subject: FROM ECOWAS OFFICE

ATTN: THE BENEFICIARY,

THANKS FOR YOUR LAST EMAIL CONVERSATION.

TRY TO LISTEN TO ME ATTENTIVELY NOW ,LIKE I HAVE TOLD YOU PREVIOUSLY, ALL THE COPIES OF YOUR ORIGINAL FUND TRANSFER CLEARANCE DOCUMENTS HAS LONG BEEN SUBMITTED WITH THE INITIAL BANK WHERE YOUR PAYMENT FUND WAS DEPOSITED. PRESENTLY, THEY HAVE HANDED-OVER ALL THE DOCUMENTS TO THE LEGAL ATTORNEY ACCREDITED TO ECOWAS HENCE YOUR FUNDS HAS BEEN PUT UNDER THEIR CUSTODY AWAITING FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE ARRIVAL FOR YOUR PERSONAL ENDORSEMENT ON THE ORIGINALS OF THE FUND RELEASE ORDER (FRO) DOCUMENTS TO ENABLE THE ECOWAS KEEP PROPER RECORD OF YOUR FUND RELEASE AND PAYMENT, BEFORE THE FUNDS CAN BE WIRED INTO YOUR NEW BANK ACCOUNT THAT YOU WILL OPEN WITH ECO BANK DURING YOUR VISIT.

SO, I EMPLORE YOU TO MAKE ALL YOUR ARRANGEMENTS AND ENSURE THAT YOU ARRIVE IN COTONOU, REPUBLIC OF BENIN AS FAST AS YOU CAN AND WITHOUT DELAY TO COMPLETE THIS PAYMENT PROCESS.

UPON YOUR ARRIVAL INTO COTONUE BENIN REPUBLIC, THE UNITED NATIONS AGENT ATTACHED WITH ECOWAS MR.JOHN WESTON, WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO THE ACCREDITED ATTORNEY TO ASSIST YOU IN TO PERFECT THE PROCESS. THEN, ALL PARTIES INCLUDING YOU WILL PROCEED TO THE BANK FOR ONWARD RELEASE OF THE FUND TO YOU.

PLEASE I ADVISE YOU TO STUDY ALL THE DOCUMENTS CAREFULLY AFTER THE ATTORNEY MIGHT HAVE PRESENTED ALL OF THEM TO YOU, THEN YOU MAY ASK QUESTIONS ON THE AREAS YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND PROPERLY TO AVOID MISTAKES OR DELAY THAT WILL COMPLICATE THE FINAL RELEASE OF THIS FUNDS TO YOU.

C O N G R A TU L A T I O N S !.

YOURS FAITHFULLY,

Dr.Koffi Mensar
(Executive Director General.)
CC, Dr.Bossou Adjovi(Director of international remittance
CC, Frank M. Williams (The Justice in eco was House
CC, Daniel Brown (Director of Credit Control in United Nation Security Agency London.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam