419 scam: Festus Ego <festusego12@yahoo.pt> FROM THE OFFICE PAYMENT DEPARTMENT.

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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:
- "swift card payment center" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "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.
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.
- festus_ego@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Festus Ego <festusego12@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: Festus Ego <festus_ego@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2014 11:04:10 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: FROM THE OFFICE PAYMENT DEPARTMENT.

Federal Ministry of Finance
International Settlement Dept
Ref:BCEAO/ird/cbx/022/14
Immediate Due release order
Â
Attn: To Whom It Concern!!!
Following the protest of the international community, the World Bank, IMF and the instruction by the president and the commander in chief of armed forces (Chief Dr.Festus Ego.Boni) that all outstanding foreign debts especial next of kin/contract payment should immediate be release to the beneficiaries forth with unconditionally this new month of November/2014.
Â
In this effect Your Contact Email Was Given To This Office In Respect Of the Total inherited/Contract Sum Owed To You Which You Have Failed To Claim Because Of Either Non-Compliance Of Official Processes Or Because Of Your Unbelief Of The Reality Of Your Genuine Payment.
Â
We wish to inform you that Right Now We Have Arranged Your Payment Through Our Swift Card Payment Centers, which Is The Latest Instruction From Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) that This Card Center should be Send To You An ATM valuable GOLD DEBIT Card Which You Will Use To Withdraw Your Money In Any ATM Machine In Any Part Of The World. So If You wish To Receive Your Fund In This Way, shouldnâ€™t hesitate Contacting
Â
Â Dr.Festus Ego.Â
of Integrated payment departmentÂ
via a secure email account:festus_ego@yahoo.com.hk

He has been mandated By the ECOWAS Parliament to Issue out to you no much than (USD$821,000.00) For This fiscal year 2014. Also for Your Information, You Have To Stop Any Further Communication with Any Other Person (S) Or Office (S) if you are still in contact in order To Avoid Any Hitches in Receiving Your Payment.
Â
Yours in Service,
Dr.Festus Ego.
International settlement dept.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam