419 scam: "Mathew Donald" <eco@ecobank.org> My business plan/ Proposal

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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.

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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:
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million united state dollars" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mathew Donald" <eco@ecobank.org>
Reply-To: dmatt4340@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 04 Jul 2014 20:35:05 +0100
Subject: My business plan/ Proposal

Dear Sir,

I know this message will come to you as a surprise since we do not know each other before, but for purpose of introduction, I am Mr. Mathew Donald, a Senior auditor ECOBANK of Benin. Please understand that my reason for this communication is pure business for our mutual benefit.

There is an account opened in ECOBANK in 1992, after going through some old files in the records, I discovered that nobody has operated on this account since 1999 uptill date. From our records, the owner of this account is Mr. Smith B. Andrea, {a geologist by profession and a miner}.

After several notifications as a routine to the address of this distinguished customer of ours, his employees told our management that Mr.Smith B. Andrea died when a Kenyan Airways crashed along the coast of West Africa. My investigation proved to me that no other person knows about this account or any thing concerning it, the company does not know any thing about this account and as well the account has no other beneficiary.This account presently accommodates the amount involving US$(9.5) million United State Dollars.

I need your full co-operation to make this object successful because the management is ready to approve this payment to any foreigner who has correct information of this account, which I will give to you immediately if you are capable and willing to handle such amount with confidence and trust according to my instructions and advise for our mutual benefit because this is a life time opportunity I do not want to miss.

Please send me your private telephone number.
I look forward to your reply.

Yours Truly,
Mr.Mathew Donald

Address:
Rue Gouverneur Bayol
01 B.P. 1280 RP Cotonou
Rep of Benin.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam