419 scam: "Dr. Richard N. Kihuria" <edithi0iochou@yahoo.co.jp> FROM ECOWAS OFFICE

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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. Richard N. Kihuria" <edithi0iochou@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: "Dr. Richard N. Kihuria" <kihuriaafricaunionfund@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 26 Oct 2014 01:10:35 +0900 (JST)
Subject: FROM ECOWAS OFFICE

FROM ECOWAS OFFICE.

Attention My Dear.

Am Dr. Richard N. Kihuria the head of
New operation Manager Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS).i wish
to bring to your notice as a Christ like type to alert you about the current
plans over all the funds under the custody the ECOWAS treasury and security
sector which your amount is included the last meeting held at ECOWAS head
office with all West African Country President is a debate over the use of said
funds to combat the killer diseases know as Ebola.

Am passing such a vital information
to you so that you will not lose your funds. First of all, I do not know if I
am talking to the right person, regarding to the meeting the Ecowas in African
held. Haven done all the proper verification exercise from all our department,
we found you worthy of the cash in the one of the African bank here But I will
like you to confirm if you are the owner of this email ID. Already I have your
name and details in our file in the office, but somehow I am not comfortable
and too sure. So I just want to make sure am communicating with the real owner
of this Email ID whom we also have your other detail in our data.

If you can proof that you are the
owner of this email ID, then I will furnish you with the information that I
have for you. So by your respond, if you can be able to Identify your name and
address as we have it in Data here, I will proceed and let you know what news
we have for you. I am taking this preventive measure because I do not want to
talk to the wrong person because of the sensitivity of the information
regarding on this matter. Other details will be forwarded to you as soon as I
am convinced I am communicating with the right person.

Special Thanks To You My Good Friend,

Dr. Richard N. Kihuria.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam