419 scam: "FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF ECOWAS" <saulnieh@cgocable.ca> Attn: Please,

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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. )
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "(efcc)" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned 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: "FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF ECOWAS" <saulnieh@cgocable.ca>
Reply-To: garethelforrd133@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 30 May 2020 11:15:24 +0100
Subject: Attn: Please,

--
FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF ECOWAS,COTONOU,BENIN
OB/OP/1234 PLOT , VICTORIA ISLAND COTONOU,BENIN.
OUR REF.CODE:BSEL/773/AWN/021/17

Attn: Please,

Records show that you are among one of the individuals and organizations who are yet to receive their overdue payment from overseas which includes those of Lottery/Contract and Inheritance Payment From 2010 years ago till 2020

Records. Through our Fraud Monitory Unit we have also noticed that over the past 5 good Years,You have been transacting with some impostors and fraudsters In Cotonou- Benin Republic,Ghana,Spain,London UK and even Togo who have been impersonating likes of Courier Companies,Western Union & Bankers, none officials of Eco Bank,

And some impostors claiming to be The Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Cyber Crime Division of the FBI gathered information from the Internet Crime Complaint Center (ICCC) formerly known as the Internet Fraud Complaint Center (EFCC) of how some people have lost outrageous sums of money to these impostors/Fraudsters. As a result of this we hereby advise you to stop communication Completely with any one not referred to you by this court.

We have negotiated with the Federal Ministry of Finance that your payment total US$6,900,000.00 has been released to you via a custom pin based ATM-card with a maximum withdrawal limit of $10,000 a day which is powered by Visa Card and can be used anywhere in the world where you see a Visa Card Logo on the Automatic Teller Machine (ATM).

We have advised that this should be the only way at which you are to receive your payment because it’s more guaranteed than any other means and what a joy that I will deliver the ATM-Card directly to you with the PIN Access Codes and The good News is that You will makes use of the ATM-Card in my Presence by using the ATM-Card to Withdraw to Confirm it Life,

Please Be Noted that over $5 billion was lost on fakecheque For past years. We give you 100% Guarantee over this Card, because we have perfected everything in regards to the release of your US$6,900,000.00 United States Dollars to be 100% risk free and free from any hitches as it’s our duty to protect you and Your Property.

This is as a result of the mandate from USA Government to make sure all debts owned to people which includes Inheritance, Contract, Gambling/Lottery etc are been cleared for the betterment of the current economic status of the nation

We are hereby advised to Be In Contact with us via email & Phone always for the requirement to proceed and procure your Affidavit of Payment Warrant and Endorsement of your ATM Release Order on your behalf.

Please Reply with this details Below:

Your full Name:..........
Your Country:............YourAddress:............
Home/Cell Phone:.........

Please This Details above will help us to Secure and know that You are right Beneficiary to receive this Card, It is very necessary and You Furnish us all this Infos on receipt of this message and only money you will spend is just the Shipment Fee 170 usd for the ATM VISA CARD through DHL courier company that will deliver the card to your doorstep successful within 3 days without any hitches or delay as far as we concern and you will start using the ATM card to withdrawing your fund from any ATM MACHINE World Wide the same day you receive the card, return this message in order to receive the bank account info where to transfer the 170 usd Okay.

We Promise to Serve you better, Thanks and My Regards to your Family

BEST REGARD.
HON.JUSTICE MARIUS GBANGLO,
From FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF BENIN,
COTONOU,BENIN DIVISION.
MY ADDRESS: ZONE DES AMBASSADES RUE 1089, 02 BP 4895, COTONOU

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam