419 scam: "West Africa Financial Reconcillation Commission"<bru.bern@libero.it> New Message

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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:
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "West Africa Financial Reconcillation Commission" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <west_commission@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 2014 14:56:18 -0800
Subject: New Message

Greetings,

We are not sure you received our previous message to you. We wish to let you know that your payment file was forwarded to our office for immediate review and release of your outstanding fund starting with a first transfer of US$950,000.00 with reference No. NG/FM-95WA, to your bank account within the next one month by the West Africa Financial Reconcillation Commission( WAFRC) an Affiliate to Economic Commission of West Africa State (ECOWAS)

However, we are surprised to receive another application this week from your representative, MR.HANS STEINBICHLER,stating that you authorized him to transfer the funds to another bank account in Switzerland and that you were recently involved in an auto accident and can't walk right now.

Could you please confirm immediately your relationship with MR.HANS STEINBICHLER and also, confirm if the bank account in Switzerland as shown below is now your new bank account details to receive your funds this from our paying bank

CREDIT SUISSE, CH-8038 ZÜRICH,SWITZERLAND
ACCOUNT NO:0872-456011-91
IBAN: CH55 0487 2045 6011 9100 0
SWIFT CODE: CRESCHZZ8OT

Kindly get in touch with us today by email with your telephone number to confirm this information so as to avoid wrong transfer of your funds. we can proceed with the transfer of the US$950,000.00 to your correct bank account as scheduled if you open communication with us.

Yours sincerely,

Paul Boro
Director,Anti-Fraud Unit.
West Africa Financial Reconcillation Commission.
Cotonnou
Republique Du Benin

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam