419 scam: "Dr. Bernard Nweze"<remittanceunit@ecobankplc.com> Your urgent response will be 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:
- "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)
- "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)
- "foreign payment department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (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.
- +2348156076957
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.
- ecobankplc@abv.bg (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. Bernard Nweze" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ecobankplc@abv.bg>
Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2013 23:14:26 -0800
Subject: Your urgent response will be needed

ECOBANK PLC, FOREIGN REMITTANCE UNIT.
Address. 2 Ajose Adeogun, Victoria Island,
Lagos, Nigeria.
CALL US ON +234 815 607 6957.

ATTN: Beneficiary,

This is to bring to your notice that we have been instructed by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) foreign payment Department for foreign contractors after your fund approval to effect your contract/inheritance payment of $10.5million (Ten million, five hundred thousand United States dollars) part payment has been approved by Federal Ministry of Works and Federal Ministry of Finance. The approval stated that we shall effect transfer of this fund within the period of sixteen (16) business days and you are required to come down to Nigeria and sign the necessary documents needed to finally effect the transfer to your nominated bank account.

Meanwhile, we now have somebody from your country by name Peter Herald who contacted us and said you are on sick bed and ordered him to contact us to remit the sum of $10.5 million USD using his information and bank coordinates. I hereby urged you to call or email me urgently for your comments which will be highly appreciated if you are still alive or not on sick bed, because we will not hesitate to continue the transfer activation with the name of the gentleman on claim if no response come from you. Contact me on this number : +234 815 607 6957. or e-mail me back using this address ecobankplc@abv.bg as your silence will be a clear indication that you authorized him to effect the above changes. Also fill the information below to help us confirm that you are still alive and also starting preparing for your trip to Nigeria for final transfer of your fund.

(1) Your Full Name:.............
(2) Fax and Mobile #:..........
(3) Home/ Office Address:..........
(4) Profession and Age:...........

Your urgent response will be needed.

Regards,
Dr. Bernard Nweze,
DIRECTOR FOREIGN REMITTANCE UNIT.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam