419 scam: "INFO BANK"<eddy@vdctelecom.com> The Ria Money Transfer Team.

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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:
- "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "money gram" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "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.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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.
- +22962411639 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "INFO BANK" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ria.trans@outlook.com>
Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2017 09:41:42 -0000
Subject: The Ria Money Transfer Team.

RIA Department West Africa
Manager Mr.Jim Daniel
Phone Number +229-62411639

Dear Customer,

Happy New Year to you,This is RIA Department Benin Republic are here to inform
you about your compensation payment total sum of$1.950,000.00 usd deposited into this bank from Economic Community Of West African States under the
President of ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Marcel de SOUZA in conjuction with Minister of Finance
head office Benin Republic and they instructed us to be transfer it to you.

We asked to know their reasons of given out these huge amount of money to you
and they stated that it is your compensation payment for the impression you had in all African Countries.

This is to inform you that we tried to send your payment but it was bounced
requested that your payment must Authorized by obtaining Clearance Certificate
from International Monitary Fund Office which we negotiated with them and they
demand for $98.00 usd before they can issue the certificate,so it is left for
you to pay the fee because based on the intruction,we are not permitted to
remove even $1 cent out from your fund.

You are advised to send the fee of $98.00 usd with the below details
through Money Gram or Western Union.

Receiver's Name:::::DAVID EJOH
Country::::::::Benin Republic.
Address::: ::::No 0023 BP Avotrou Cotonou,
Text Question::::: when
Answer: ::::::Now
Amount ::::::$98.00 usd
Sender's Name:
Reff Number#:
Sender’s addres

If you have questions, please contact us with +229-62411639

Sincerely,
Mr.Jim Daniel
Manager of RIA Department Western African
Phone Number +229-62411639
The Ria Money Transfer Team.

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam