419 scam: ECHI IWOBI <maillben@otenet.gr> Compliment of the day my good friend

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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:
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
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.
- mrmichaelfrien@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: ECHI IWOBI <maillben@otenet.gr>
Reply-To: mrmichaelfrien@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2017 07:54:04 +0000
Subject: Compliment of the day my good friend

--
Compliment of the day my good friend

It is my pleasure to reach you after our successful attempt on our
business transaction. Well, I just want to use this medium to thank you
very much for your earlier assistance in the past to help me in
receiving the fund,I am obliged to inform you that I have succeeded in
transferring the fund with the help of a new partner from Brazil.
Everything was perfectly done because we stroke a deal with one of the
Lady accountant who works with the Federal Ministry of Finance (F M F),
and she rendered tremendous help to us. My new partner initiated this
idea and it worked out successfully.

In appreciation of your earlier assistance to me in receiving the funds
which you did not complete with me, I have decided to compensate you
with the sum of Nine hundred and fifty thousand united state dollars
($950.000.00 USD) Please accept it as a token of appreciation from Me.
Presently, I am in Mexico for investment project. Since it was
difficult to contact you before i traveled due to the urgency of my
business schedule, I have left instruction with NAME: Mr. Michael Frien
the foreign remittance department of African development bank Parakou
branch Benin Republic to send your cheque. You need to contact him today
on the email you will find in the reply to of this message.

Now contact my secretary,his name and contact information are:

NAME: Mr. Michael Frien
EMAIL:mrmichaelfrien@hotmail.com

Please email him and inform him that I have contacted you that he should
go ahead to send your compensation cheque.You have to reconfirm your
information to him so that he will confirm that you are the person
supposed to contact him, considering the kind of information he is
expecting, so feel free to get in touch with NAME: Mr. Michael Frien he
will send you the cheque without any hitch.

Send to him the following data: Your delivery Address, Your Full Name,
Country, City, Age, Sex, Phone Number, Occupation. If you wish to
receive your money in a cheque, kindly tell him your preference to
receive your $950.000.00 USD.You can as well forward to me your full
details as mention above so that i will send it to him.

God Bless you and your family.
Regards,
Mr.Charles Rodrique

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam