419 scam: "Mr. Bayo Bassu" <test@vacationgiant.com> URGENT ANSWER NEEDED

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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:
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "(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)
- "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 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.
- bayo.fayemi0123@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Bayo Bassu" <test@vacationgiant.com>
Reply-To: bayo.fayemi0123@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2016 17:45:37 +0100 (BST)
Subject: URGENT ANSWER NEEDED

FUND RECOVERY COMMITTEE PANEL AND THE
ANTI-CORRUPTION AND FINANCIAL CRIMES.
ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES (ECOWAS).
522 M Square, Lot 30 Residential Zone,
Cotonou, 01 BP 404 RP, Benin Republic.
Chairman: Mr. Bayo Bassu Fayemi.
5th April, 2016.

Attention Sir/Madam,

This is Thirty (30) Men Panel Committee set up by the Economic Community
of West African States (ECOWAS). The Economic Community of West African
States (ECOWAS), is a regional group of fifteen West African countries
founded on 28 May 1975 with the idea to promote economic integration
across the region. Considered one of the pillars of the African Economic
Community, the organization was founded in order to achieve "collective
self-sufficiency" for its member states by creating a single large trading
bloc through an economic and trading union. It also serves as a
peacekeeping force in the region. The organization operates officially in
three co-equal languages—French, English, and Portuguese.

In response to pressure from the Financial Action Task Force on Money
Laundering (FATF), advance fee fraud (419 fraud), corruptions, scam,
fraud, and illegal financial activities, the Economic Community of West
African States (ECOWAS), hereby set up this Thirty (30) Men
Panel/Committee in order to co-operate with the international community's
efforts to fight money laundering, corruptions, frauds and other financial
crimes.

Our office has been mandated and officially assigned by the ECOWAS
COMMUNITY to investigate thoroughly concerning all the corruptions, scam,
fraud, illegal and financial crimes committed across the African region by
the past (Leaders, Government, Banks, Couriers and High Profile
Individuals). And through our on-going investigations we discovered that
your NAMES/ADDRESS was among the SCAM VICTIMS who were yet to receive and
claim his/her payment that was awarded to them by this organization, the
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

We are hereby notifying you regarding your payment/fund recovered by this
commission. Through the help of our regional POLICE FORCE/INTERPOL we have
been able to recovered your fund worth's of Five Million, Seven Hundred
Thousand United States Dollars (US$5,700,000.00). The money has been
deposited into a safe BANK ACCOUNT for immediate payment to you. We have
successfully recovered your FUND (US$5.7m) and therefore deposited into
our paying BANK for immediate transfer to you.

Therefore, we are waiting upon your email in order to instruct the BANK
authorities to proceed on your payment without further delaying. The
paying BANK will embark officially on your PAYMENT/TRANSFER as soon as
possible upon your response on this issue. Note you can receive your
PAYMENT/FUND through a (Certified Cashier's cheque, ATM CARD or WIRE
TRANSFER), therefore you are advise to respond and get back to us
immediately upon receiving this message.

Yours Faithfully,

Mr. Bayo Bassu Fayemi.
Chairman.
Fund Recovery Committee/Panel.
African Region, ECOWAS.
E-mail: bayo.fayemi0123@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam