419 scam: CEDEAO ECOWAS <apexfinance@westpartners.biz> Re: Scam victims compensated

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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:
- "(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 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.
- +22999968688 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: CEDEAO ECOWAS <apexfinance@westpartners.biz>
Reply-To: info@westpartners.biz
Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2012 23:26:14 +0200
Subject: Re: Scam victims compensated

ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES (ECOWAS)
COMMUNAUTE ECONOMIQUE DES ETATS DE L?AFRIQUE DE L?OUEST (CEDEAO)
270, Boulevard Ste Michel, Cotonou, R.P.Benin
Tel: +22999968688
Fax: +22964910287

Re: Your Compensation fund.
Following the visit of the Pope Benedict XVI to Republic of Benin and his views
on high level of corruption in the West African States especially in the
Government sector, he urged the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) to embrace reforms, pointing to corruption as a key factor that
undermines its policies. Based on this development and following his
recommendation, the ECOWAS in collaboration with the World Bank and IMF have
mapped out two billion dollars to compensate frauds victims all over the world
as this inhuman act commonly called 419 originated from West Africa. Therefore,
the organization is currently looking into all international financial
transactions, including but not limited to your contract, inheritance or
lotteries funds. This is one of the numerous efforts of the ECOWAS in trying to
sanitize their already battered image. We write to notify that your share of
this compensation will be paid to you upon presentation of satisfactory evidence
that you have been truly defrauded.
Henceforth, the West Financial Partners take responsibility for the payment of
this money. We shall be waiting for your immediate communication with your full
contact details forwarded to West Financial Partners at: info@westpartners.biz

Yours in Service,
Dr. Dossou Pierre
Bilingual Secretary.

YOU WILL NOT BE ATTENDED TO IF YOU REPLY TO THIS EMAIL; CONTACT THE WEST
FINANCIAL PARTNERS DIRECTLY AT: info@westpartners.biz FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam