419 scam: =?ISO-8859-1?Q?ECO_BANK_CUSTOMER_CARE=AE?= <citibankplc1@gmail.com> ECO FINACIAL BANK PLC......TREAT AS URRGENT

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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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "ecoban.kcustomercare@informaticos.com" (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.
- +22999204920 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: =?ISO-8859-1?Q?ECO_BANK_CUSTOMER_CARE=AE?= <citibankplc1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: ecoban.kcustomercare@informaticos.com
Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2013 16:48:47 +0100
Subject: ECO FINACIAL BANK PLC......TREAT AS URRGENT

ECO FINACIAL BANK PLC
Western Union
Send Money Worldwide
Foreign operation manager.

Hello Dear:

This information reaching us from our corporate headquarters now, th
questions is that do you still need your fund? And honest answered is
needed from you, and to be honest with you, all you have to do is to get
back, which is the best option for you if you real need your fund to
enable you cash up your first $5000.00 with our board of directors again in
this bank we come into conclusion that our board of directors has permit
you to receive your fund without any payment.

So if everything is OK now and if you are ready I want you to get back to
me immediately, your MTCN is available to pick up by you and I can assure
you of that, I can bet you of this and you can see what am saying to you if
only you can believe me and see what am talking about, you can easily pick
up $5000 today from your fund without doubt, Note: Do not reply this
e-mail, if you can not send your official signning claims agreement fee
with this bank and be inform that this will cost you USD$60.00 to cliam.

Important Note: The only thing I will do to prove my self true is to swear
to you if you want us to send your first payment because I can assure you
that once you send this $60 and in 3hours of the same day you did not pick
up your first payment of $5000 dollars may it not be well with me. Again I
can assure you that there is no other fee you are to send after this fee,
if any occurred let me die

So note that you are only to pay $60 to receive your first payment today so
you are entitle to receive your first payment today if you want, do send
the money today as well, My dear; note that the only and final this will
cost you is $60 to receive your first payment today and nothing more. this
will only taken 3hours to happen if you send this today.

RECEIVER NAME:..........IGNATIUS AMAECHI NWEKE
COUNTRY:...........BENIN REPUBLIC .
CITY :..................COTONOU.
COUNTRY................00229
TEST QUESTION:.........IN GOD
TEST ANSWER:.......WE TRUST.
AMOUNT:..........$60 , USD

I wait for your advice ASAP.

We await for your urgent email with the payment information.

THANKS FOR OUR PATRONAGE,
YOURS SINCERELY
MR.CHRIS ONYESOM
FINACIAL BANK FOREIGN OPERATION MANAGER WESTERN UNION OFFICE
REPLY TO EMAIL; ecoban.kcustomercare@informaticos.com
Tell: +229-99-2049-20.
.............................. ..............................
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CONFIDEN TIALITY NOTICE:
This e-mail, including any attachments, contains information from you,
Western Union Benin Republic Manager Group, Inc, which may be confidential
or privileged. The information is intended to be for the use of the
individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, be
aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of the contents of
this information is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error,
please notify the sender immediately by "reply to sender only" message and
destroy all electronic and hard copies of the communication, including
attachments.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam