419 scam: "Ecowas Payment Office"<info@kalalist.com> Attn: Good News...

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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:
- ",500,000" (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)
- "(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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Ecowas Payment Office" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info.atm@foxmail.com>
Date: Sun, 4 Sep 2016 15:48:49 +0800
Subject: Attn: Good News...

Attn: Beneficiary,

This is to officially inform you that after the recent meeting held on Yesterday by the (ECOWAS) Economic Committees of West African State in Collaboration with United State Ambassadors and United Nation concerning the delay and fraudulent acts going on under West African region, this has prompted the Chairman Economic Communities Of West African States (ECOWAS) Chief John Dramani Mahama to set aside the total sum of $1,500,000.00 USD as compensation to each of you the 10 Scam victims while West African government takes their time to find the best way of paying the principle sum to you all without being fool by anyone again.

Sir/Madam, we are here to bring to your notice that arrangement has been made to make the of $1,500,000.00 USD available to you via ATM VISA/MASTER CARD so that you can easily receive the $1,500,000.00 without any delay or going through any form of cheating again.

When we receive your immediate response on this regards, we will give you more details and as well direct you on the next step.

We apologize for the ugly incident you must have encountered in the past with West African government and we assure to reach you soon on your principle sum payment.

Yours faithfully
Mr. Douglas Asare
Secretary (ECOWAS UNION)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam