419 scam: Mr Sunny Aku <williams.kevin95@yahoo.fr> ECOWAS REGIONAL INVESTMENT

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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:
- "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. )
- "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)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "oceanicbkplc01@w.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
- +22999 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
- +229 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Mr Sunny Aku <williams.kevin95@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: oceanicbkplc01@w.cn
Date: Fri, 27 May 2011 09:37:38 +0100 (BST)
Subject: ECOWAS REGIONAL INVESTMENT

#yiv1063114371 .yiv1063114371ExternalClass .yiv1063114371ecxhmmessage P
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#yiv1063114371 .yiv1063114371ExternalClass body.yiv1063114371ecxhmmessage
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      ECOWAS       ECOWAS REGIONAL INVESTMENT BANK S.A COTONOU BENIN.
Bank Address:   BP 2700, Cotonou, Benin
+229 99 157193 Fax   +229 21 31 31 03,
       E-mail: oceanicbkplc01@w.cn
Dear Beneficiary

I write to inform you that we received your personal/banking details,your passport copy you sent to this bank yesterday regarding your inheritance fund left unclaimed pending with this Finance Institute.

In respect to that,after the proper investigation carried out by the management this morning.it was discovered that the fund in question belong to you valued at USD$2.800.000.00 ( two Million eight Hundred Thousand United States Dollars only)which was deposited in account number 378252939027/ECOB/BJ but the claim file has been suspended.

We want to bring to your understanding that we are working according to the banking rules and regulations guiding the Federal Repubilc of Cotonou Benin Republic and African in general on the Failed banks( Act of 1997).inheritance recovery,e.t.c.
In line with the inheritance policy and allied administrative matters to ensure speedy transfer of your inheritance fund before we commence our end of Esater auditing.You are instructed to hurry and send to this bank the sum of $145.00 for immediate re-opening and activating of your claim file to enable the immediate swift transfer of your inheritance fund into your bank account information you provided.

Hurry and send the money through the help of western union transfer with this name below to ensure speedy action on your behalf as soon as possible today as in accordance with the prudential guidlines for licensed Banks as disclosed in the note 23 to the financial statement of Cotonou Benin Circular BSD/27/2011.

Use this information to send the money immediately:
Reciever Name:Mr Anthony Onyibor
Address :Cotonou Benin Republic
Question: What's Code
Answer : 00229
Amount :$145

My advise is for you to comply with the given instructions immediately for us to finish with everything before we commence with our end of the Esater auditing as the time is lapsing.

Call Mr Sunny Aku,for oral clarification if need be.

Thanks as you Co-operate in your own interest.

Yours in service,

Mrs Beatrice Keto. Secretary to Ecowas Regional Investment Bank Cotonou Benin Republic.
Mr Sunny Aku General Director General.
Hot Line+229 9867-7751

MANAGER ECO-BANK INTERNATIONAL PLC
Mr.SUNDAY AKU.
DIRECTOR INCHARGE
TELEPHONE: +229 9867-7751

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam