419 scam: "ECOWAS REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT" <info@ecowas.com> Letter from Mrs. Antionette Sayeh I.M.F West African Director.

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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. )
- "money gram" (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)
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.

Fraud email example:

From: "ECOWAS REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT" <info@ecowas.com>
Reply-To: ecowasremittanced@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2013 16:31:57 +0700
Subject: Letter from Mrs. Antionette Sayeh I.M.F West African Director.

Attention Please Read Carefully.

Letter from Mrs. Antionette Sayeh I.M.F West African Director. This is to
notify you that International Monetary Fund West African Region has Approve
compensation fund to all short listed scam victims whose name was recovered
during the recent investigation process going on at western union and money
gram money transfer here in West Africa. Your name was found among the list of
those that sent so much money through western union to Nigeria, after our
investigation we find out that you have sent so much money to those Fraudsters
in west Africa without receiving anything from them.

It was on these very recommendation that International Monetary Fund West
African Region Approve The Sum of US$800.000.00-{ Eight Hundred Thousand
United States Dollars to you, in other to compensate you for all you lost to
those Fraudsters, Is an order from United Nation and Word Government to all
the West Africa Countries to compensate all the short listed scam victims
whose name was recovered during the recent investigation process going on at
western union and Money gram money transfer here in Africa.

I was instructed to inform you on the latest development concerning your
Compensation fund, This is to bring to your notice that because of the
impossibility of your fund transfer through the western union network or ATM
MASTER CARD,

We the members of International Monetary Fund West African Region are very
pleased to inform you that your information has been passed to our
international foreign corresponding bank in Asian Finance Bank Dubai to
transfer your entire fund to you including the interest via bank to bank wire
transfer to your bank account, we have to do this, because we did not trust
any bank in Africa.

Right now your total fund is in Asian Finance Bank Dubai-(UAE) at this moment,
be advice to Contact your paying officer for the Immediate transfer to any
bank account of your choice world wild

Paying Bank : Asian Finance Bank Dubai
Contact Person : Mr. Mohamed Usuman
Tel ; +971529982644
Contact Email : ( asianfinbnk@blumail.org )

Endeavor to email them following information for immediate processing,

Full Names:
Address:
Age:
Country:
Phone no:

Make sure you get in touch with the Finance Bank on this email address : (
asianfinbnk@blumail.org ) also dont forget to email them your contact information.

Thank you.

Yours Sincerely,
DR.Mrs.Antoinette Sayeh
I.M.F West African Director.

Best Regard,

Mr. Samuel Bello
Authorization Minister
ECOWAS WEST AFRICA

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam