419 scam: "ECOWAS"<info@k1.surf> REPLY BACK URGENTLY

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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:
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- "million 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "abuja" (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.
- ecowasdebtpayment@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "ECOWAS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ecowasdebtpayment@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 5 Dec 2022 20:26:46 +0200
Subject: REPLY BACK URGENTLY

Foreign Debt Reconciliation Committee
Central Business District,
P.M.B. 532, Garki Abuja, Nigeria..

Sir,

Confirmation Of Your Funds Payment By Our Office

We write to inform you that the African Union AU, and the Economic Community Of West African States ECOWAS has fowrded your name to our office as part of the beneficiary of the three hundred and seventy Billion United States Dollars only US$370,000,000,000.00, they sent to us for payment of debts owned by the member countries in West Africa.

It was stated that the sum of thirty five million united states dollars only US$35,000,000.00 was allocated to you as payment of your debt owned to you by their member country Nigeria government.We are ready to pay the allocated amount to you through our approved payment method as stated bellow:

1) Bank to Bank Swift Wire Transfer direct to your nominated bank account
2) International Certified and insured Bank Draft, cashable in any bank in the world.
3) International Debit ATM Card, You can use it to withdraw cash from any ATM Machine all over the world. You can also use the card to make online purchase.

You are required to respond to this email immediately and inform us your selected funds payment method,To enable us program your selected funds payment method and proceed with the funds payment as programmed.

We await your Reply

Best Regards

Senator Hope Uzodinma
A.U AND ECOWAS Funds Payment Coordinator
E-mail: ecowasdebtpayment@aol.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam