419 scam: "ECOBANK GHANA LIMITED" <enquiries@ebdig.eu> YOUR ATM CARD IS READY AWAITING COLLECTION...

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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:
- "million 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)
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
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.
- ecoremittancedepartment@accountant.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "ECOBANK GHANA LIMITED" <enquiries@ebdig.eu>
Reply-To: ecoremittancedepartment@accountant.com
Date: Mon, 1 Apr 2013 17:22:24 +0100
Subject: YOUR ATM CARD IS READY AWAITING COLLECTION...

Sir,

Prior to the debt re-payment agreements recently signed with the Federal
Government of Nigeria to assist them with the payment of their long
outstanding foreign contract debts and in view of an Irrevocable Payment
Approval Order (IPAO) received from Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Finance
Minister, Federal Republic of Nigeria in your favour, I am obliged to
inform you that an ATM Card valued Twenty Seven Million Five Hundred
Thousand United State Dollars (US$27.5 Million Dollars) has been approved
for your payment and upgraded in your favour. Our ATM Services are fully
inter-switched and this allows you to make withdrawal from any location of
the ATM Centre of your choice nearest to you anywhere in the world.

Also, we have concluded delivery arrangement with an accredited courier
services company to oversee the delivery of your ATM card and your secret
pin number to you without further delay. However, the delivery cost of
your ATM card payment instrument shall remain your responsibility.
Following this therefore, you are required to offset the delivery cost of
your ATM card payment instrument immediately, as this is a facilitator to
the prompt delivery of your ATM card to your destination.

Your ATM Card and the secret pin number which is in a casing under seal
will be delivered to you in person within 72 hours of confirming the
payment of the delivery cost to us. Should this seal be broken on receipt,
please refer to the undersigned immediately. The delivery cost is not
deductible at source due to the payment structure and security adopted. Be
aware that all relevant documents/certificates related to the
origin/source of this fund shall be attached to your ATM Card to avoid
interception, interrogation and delay by the customs or other concerned
authorities.

Should you have preference to a particular time and day of visitation,
please do let us know in order to advise the Courier Company accordingly.
Also, be informed that whatever instrument you are going to present to the
staff of the courier company as your identity on his arrival to your
destination for clarification, has to be forwarded to us for registration
with the courier company for security reasons. And once registered, that
shall remain your ‘ONLY’ proven identity. In conclusion, we want a
reconfirmation of the following from you:
(A) Your current mailing address, where you want your ATM card payment
instrument to be delivered.
(B) Your direct telephone number for easy communication.

Kindly expedite action.

Yours Faithfully,
Mr. Edward Appiah
Director ATM Services Ecobank Ghana Limited.
Email: ecoremittancedepartment@accountant.com
Direct Telephone Number: +233 509 732959

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam