419 scam: Ecobank Plc <richard@wksigns.com.hk> RE: APPROVAL OF YOUR CONTRACT INHERITANCE

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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:
- "your payment is being processed" (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)
- "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "(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)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (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.
- +2349037667403 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Ecobank Plc <richard@wksigns.com.hk>
Reply-To: jibrilaku.ecobnkng@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2015 02:49:57 +0800 (HKT)
Subject: RE: APPROVAL OF YOUR CONTRACT INHERITANCE

--
ECOBANK NIGERIA PLC
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT
Plot 21, Ahmadu Bello Way,
Victoria Island, Lagos - Nigeria.
Tel: +234-903-766-7403

SWIFT CODE (BIC): ECOCNGLA
ISIN CODE: NGECOBANK000
BATCH NO.: FGN/093002-15
REF: FGN/LOS/EBP-PT/0094/10/15

RE: APPROVAL OF YOUR CONTRACT INHERITANCE SUM OF US$14.5 MILLION FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TO YOU.

We have today receive a credit instruction from the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) in accordance with the meeting held this month at Ecowas secretariat Abuja with all the West African heads of state and members of the Ecowas Commission, African Union, United Nations and World Bank dignitaries over non-payment of beneficiaries fund by the above entities and we therefore apologizes for the unlawful delays of your fund by the above mention countries, entities and their financial institutions.

However, we have been mandated by the above mentioned entities to release your payment to you within the next 72hrs and Ecobank being the Ecowas Bank is the leading independent pan-African bank, with affiliates in West, Central and East Africa. The ECOWAS Commission, Africa Union, United Nations and The World Bank have instructed us to release your Contract Inheritance payment to you and from the records of outstanding beneficiaryâ€™s funds due for payment, your name is on the major short-listed list that has been approved for payment this Last Batch Payment Release Order.

We want to use this medium inform you that your payment is being processed and will be released to you either by Telegraphic Swift Wire Transfer or ATM Swift Debit Card as per your choice of payment, and the sum USD$14.5 Million has been approved for immediate release to you as soon as you respond to this letter, so kindly get back to us for immediate release of your already approved funds that tested ok!

Please confirm to us the followings details for onward processing of the release of your fund to you.

Your full name
Current contact address
Direct Telephone Number
Occupation and Sex
Means of your identification.

As a result of the on-going drive of the above entities to update their books and clear payment to beneficiaries, I strongly recommend that you promptly start your clearance as soon as possible for more clarification and for immediate release of your funds. Call me for more details.

Yours in Service,

Mr. Jibril Aku
Managing Director

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam