419 scam: Eco-bank Compensation dept <alessandro.fabbroni@alice.it> DEAR THIS IS VERY URGENT !!!

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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found 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.
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.
- +22999309572 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Eco-bank Compensation dept <alessandro.fabbroni@alice.it>
Reply-To: info.ecobank@qq.com
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 2016 09:38:50 +0100 (CET)
Subject: DEAR THIS IS VERY URGENT !!!

ECO-BANK BUILDING Cotonou, Benin Republic.
>From the Office of Mr Rick Joseph (C.E.O)
Remittances executive director of ECO BANK Benin Republic
Transfer of remittances Department. (RWTD)
10 Azakta Road Avenue, Building ECO BANK Cotonou, Benin Republic.
APPLICATION NO:
AFF98279138
DEAR THIS IS VERY URGENT !!!

This is to inform you that there's a Record of an abandoned compensation Funds
of $10.5M belonging to you and this is because last few weeks the President in
Armed Forces of Benin Republic Western Africa Dr Thomas Yayi Bonni give an
instruction to every Banks and legal offices to have release of every Funds
compensation, inheritance Funds E.t.c Belonging to Foreigners and Deceased in
which after cross-checking,

It was noticed and confirmed that your long awarded compensation funds of $$10.5
M, after the verification it was confirmed that every necessary arrangement for
release and transferring your total compensation Funds of $$10.5M to you has
been concluded and your funds has been approved for Remittance,

Please Before i proceed i would advise you re-confirm Your Full details for
clear identification as its Required below:

Your Full Name:
Your Country:
Your Home Address:
Your Occupation:
Your Contact Number:
Telephones...

As soon as you receive this letter kindly call my telephone numbers for
confirmation of the letter (+229-9930-9572 )
Best Regards,
MR RICK JOSEPH
ECO-BANK
REMITTANCE TRANSFER DEPARTMENT.
BENIN REPUBLIC

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CAUTION: THIS INFORMATION MAY BE CONFIDENTIAL OR PRIVILEGED INFORMATION.
Addressed IF YOU ARE NOT AUTHORIZED OR TO RECEIVE THIS MESSAGE, YOU MUST NOT
USE, COPY, Disclose OR TAKE ANY ACTION BASED ON THIS MESSAGE OR ANY INFORMATION
HEREIN. IF YOU RECEIVE THIS MESSAGE IN ERROR PLEASE ADVICE ON THE ABOVE THE
SENDER.
Copyright 2015 Eco Bank! Inc. All rights reserved.
Personal Banking | Business Banking | Corporate Banking | Ecobank Capital |
Ecobank Group

Anti-fraud resources:

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