Now if you believe that an international organization, such as the UNO or ECOWAS runs or sponsors lotteries, you are in for a surprise. But as we all know, for the crooks running this, any story is a good story. Somebody, somewhere will believe it. You just have to make sure you reach enough people!

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: E.C.O.W.A.S DONATION <donation.center@yahoo.com>
Date: Oct 15, 2007 5:00 AM
Subject: ECOWAS DONATIONS WINNER ALERT !!
To:

Ecowas Donations 2007
Executive Secretariat
6 King George V Rd
Abuja
Tel: +2348085563099

Dear winner,
Congratulations once more!!
This is to inform you that your email have won a prize money of Two Million United States Dollars,($2,000,000.00) for this year 2007 Lotto sweep take promotion which is organized by ECOWAS DONATIONS 2007.
ECOWAS DONATIONS 2007, Extracts all email addresses of web users that are active online,among the millions that subscribed to the Internet.we only select five people annually as our email sweeptake lucky winners without the him or her applying on the draws which is held secretly to avoid impersonation of claims by scammers/web theft
We congratulate you for being one of the lucky email user selected. Winners Shall be paid in accordance with his/her Settlement Centre.Ecowas Donations Prize must be claimed no later than 30 days from date of draw Notification after the Draw date in which Prize has won AND prize not claimed within this period will be forfeited. These are your identification numbers:
Batch number…………………ECW 09102X, Reff number…………………..ECW35447XN,
Winning number……………….ECW09788.
These numbers fall within your Location file, you are requested to contact the event manager/Claims Department, send your winning identification numbers to FINANCE DEPARTMENT for claims verification. With the following requirements:
1.Name:……………………….
2.Tel:………………………..
3.Age;………………………..
4.Sex:………………………..
5.Country:…………………….
6.Email:………………………

To Email : donationcenter@yahoo.co.uk
Or Call: Tel: +2348085563099
( FINANCE DEPARTMENT)
Name: Mr.Tijani Gaius

Yours Faithfully
Mr.Patrick Idiaghe
(E.C.O.W.A.S)
Agent Director, Ecowas
Copyright Ecowas Group, @Ecowas. All right reserved

36 Responses to “ECOWAS Lottery?”
  1. Rick Smith says:

    Here is another from the same bunch that I have received 3 times now.

    Ecowas Donation has chosen you by the board of
    trustees as one of the final recipientsof a Cash
    Grant/Donation for your own personal educational
    and business development.
    To celebrate the 30th anniversary 2007 program
    We are giving out a yearly donation of
    US$900,000.00 to 40 lucky recipients as charity donations.

    Fill Out Information:

    Full Name: ……………………
    Address: ……………………..
    Nationality:…………………..
    Occupation: …………………..
    Telephone: …………………..
    Sex:………………………….
    Age: …………………………

    For Payment Remaittance.
    Name: Mr. Michael Johnson
    Email: michael.ecowasofficer01@yahoo.com

  2. James says:

    If ECOWAS is such a legitimate organization that intentions or objective is to better the life and society within the African regions, then, why is the Chairman of this organization is allowing this people use its name for a scam like this one?

    I open an account to UPS to process the winning $2,000,000.00 lottery price or so called GRANT/DONATIONS to send to me the cheque with stated proof of documents, I called the so called Prof. A. Onovo and the financial officer Dr. Jim Long, but insist that I use Western Union instead to send them the amount for shipping of $780.00 including insurance. So, that made me check google and so all other scams using the ECOWAS name… Why not ECOWAS do something to prosecute this people..

  3. Mike (HC) says:

    James,

    like a lot of international organisations, ECOWAS has a very limited range of authority. This does not cover enabling police, customs and other organisations to work directly with each other.

    The truth is there is very little international cooperation of this kind to be found anywhere on our planet.

    And that is why the crooks are hard to catch. Effectively nobody is looking for them.

  4. Hexfix says:

    Hi @ all,
    i nget also a mail, but before I believe in this kind of message, I always search with Google.
    Better everybody follow our way!
    Friendly Regards

    Ecowas donations 2008
    101 Yakubu Gowon Cresent
    Asokoro District P.M.B. 401
    Abuja, Nigeria.
    Tel: +234-70-3911-0732

    This is to inform you that you have won a prize money of One Million
    United States Dollars, ($1,000,000.00) for this year 2008 Lottery
    promotion which is organized by ECOWAS DONATIONS GRANT.

    ECOWAS DONATIONS GRANT, collects all the email addresses of the people
    that are active online, among the millions that subscribed to the
    Internet.we only select five people every Year as our winners through
    electronic balloting System without the winner applying,we congratulate you
    for being one of the people selected.

    These are your identification numbers:
    Batch number…………………ECW 09102XN
    Reff number…………………..ECW35447XN
    Winning number……………….ECW09788

    These numbers fall within your Location file, you are requested to
    contact the events manager/Claims Department, send your winning
    identification numbers to him,to enable him verify your claims.

    (CONTACT FINANCE DEPARTMENT)
    Name:Dr.Adams Spancer
    Tel: +234-70-3911-0732
    Fax: +234-8027-725-366
    E-mail:ecowas_077@yahoo.com.hk

    Thank you and Accept my hearty congratulations once again!

    Yours faithfully,
    Mrs.Rhoda Jones.

  5. Mike (HC) says:

    Hexfix,

    many thanks for this e-mail. That certainly helps recognize these crooks.

    Michael

  6. Anonymous says:

    this is what happens when a flourishing country aids a third world country.instead of food or birth control to keep the population down.they use our money for technoligy to try and rob us.i suggest we help no one but our selves.let the crooks fight for food and shelter on home turf.and not arm them with our technoligy,just so they can scam us

  7. Tracey says:

    I received this scam today. I happened to Google Ecowas Donation Lottery and found this blog. Isn’t there anything anyone can do to the person whose email is at the bottom of these scams?

    The Ecowas Donation Lottery has chosen you by the board
    of trustees as one of the final recipients of a cash Grant/Donation
    foryour own educational, and business development. To
    celebratethe 30th anniversary program, We are giving out a yearly
    donation of US$750,000.00 (Seven Hundred And Fifty Thousand United
    States Dollars)
    Below is the verification form
    FullName:………….Address:……….
    Occupation:………….Country:………
    Telephone:………..Sex:………….
    Age:………..
    Executive Secretary- Louis Rambert
    E-Mail:mr_louisrambert212@hotmail.com

  8. Mike (HC) says:

    Tracy,

    these crooks are hard to catch. They have practically no risk of being caught. That’s why it’s better to inform people about this type of crime so they can recognise the e-mails which are being sent.

  9. Anonymous says:

    Even in Norway, we’re not left alone from this gang:

    This is to inform you that you have just been awarded the sum of
    850,000Gpd from the OXFAM GB – UK, The cash/grant donation Promo
    Programme
    that was held on 1st March 2008.Contact National Secretary Oxfam GB
    (UK),Dr.Edwards Marshall.E-mail: department_uk01@live.com
    Claims Requirements:
    1.full name:
    2.Address:
    3.Age:
    4.Sex:
    5.Occupation:
    7.Phone Number:

    Mrs.Rhoda Jones.
    Online Co-coordinator.

    What is this? And what do they do if they receive this information?

    John
    Lesja
    Norway

  10. Mike (HC) says:

    John,

    first of all, you will never get any money from these people. They will do their best to get as much money from you as possible. They start off with fees for the lottery, fees for the courier, lawyers, notaries, taxes and anything else which sounds plausible.

    Michael

  11. chixxluvdirt says:

    I just got this one, and a few others from different so-called “AGENCIES”, as well……

    ***********************************

    OXFAM GB – UK
    274, Banbury Road,
    Oxford
    OX2 7DZ

    Dear sir/madam,

    This is to notify you that you have been officially chosen by the
    Board of Trustees of the Oxfam GB (NGO UK) as one of the final Recipients of a Cash Grant/Donation for Economic Growth and a Poverty Alleviation Scheme Through your email. Oxfam GB(U.K.) a Multi-Million Pounds NGO group was established with the Objective Of Human Growth, Educational and Community Development. In line with the 61st anniversary program,Oxfam GB (U.K.) in conjunction with the European Council is giving out Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling as specific Donations/Grants to 10 lucky International recipients worldwide in differen Categories for Business and Social Development.

    These funds are freely given to you for your Business, Economic And
    Educational Development, as well as the enhancement of the overall
    standard of living in your region.Your Email was selected based on an
    internet random Selection Exercise, you are therefore confirmed as one of The lucky recipients and are entitled to £850,000.00 (EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND POUNDS STERLING) as charity donations/aid from the Oxfam GB (UK).

    Further information on requisites associated with the Processing and
    disbursement of your £850,000.00 grant entitlements,alongside the
    provision of your qualification documentations will be dislosed to you
    by the National Secretary Oxfam GB (UK), Dr.Edwards Marshall.Email:
    (department_uk01@live.com)

    Endeavour to quote your Qualification Number(OG/N231/E101/BDB) as the
    subject of your correspondence with him to facilitate your Grant
    disbursement process.

    Yours faithfully,
    Mrs. Rhoda Jones
    Programme Manager.

    ***********************************

    These people must think that we’re brainless or something. I just don’t get it…

    What’s this world coming to?!

    ANYWAYS,… I hope this helps a little, too.

    Sincerly,
    Chickee

  12. Anonymous says:

    I got one of those Oxfam ones today 8th April stating
    “This is to inform you that you have just been award the sum of
    £8500,000 from the OXFAM GB – UK, The cash/grant donation Promo
    Programme that was held on 2nd January 2008.Endeavour to quote your
    Qualification Number(OG/N231/E101/BDB) as the subject of your
    correspondence with him to facilitate your Grant disbursement process.

    Contact National Secretary Oxfam GB (UK), Dr.Edwards Marshall ::
    Email: edwardsmarshall_oxfam@yahoo.com.hk

    Claims Requirements:
    1.full name:
    2.Address:
    3.Age:
    4.Sex:
    5.Occupation:
    6.Phone Number:

    Mrs.Rhoda Jones.
    Online Co-coordinator”

    Short and sweet, not so confusing as some of the others. Just as well that I did a Goggle search for Edwards Marshall Oxfam. Does anyone out there really believe a national charity which works so hard to generate income for charity would be so generouse to give away such large sums of money? I don’t think so. Hit the delete button quick. TTFN

  13. Denis says:

    I received the below message on the 25th December. Short, to the point. But lacking alot of detail. So a quick search brought this forum up.

    Hopefully there are no persons out there that can not tell that this is a fake email.

    Email address does not have any relevance to oxfam
    Lack of information / detail , and , for this amount of money, they would have contacted you by phone, by mail on official letter head paper.
    and last but not least
    Oxfam are non profit, they raise funds for themselves, not give away money.

    ———————————————————————————
    You have been awarded �850,000 from the OXFAM GB -
    UK the cash/grant donation Promo Contact Dr.Terry Williams.
    Email(
    terrywilliams79@jmail.co.za)Qualification Number
    (OG/N231/E101/BDB)

  14. Denis,

    your observations show me you have recognized the message as a fraud already.

    Despite your hopes, I can only say that there are people on our planet who have never been confronted with a message like this. As a result, the Africans still find enough victims to fleece.

    Michael

  15. tatiana says:

    hola hoy eh recicido tambien un mensaje que decia asi:

    You have been awarded £850,000 from the OXFAM GB -

    UK the cash/grant donation Promo Contact Dr.Terry Williams.

    E- mail (terrywilliams76@jmail.co.za)

    Qualification Number(OG/N231/E101/BDB)

    ya me habian mandado uno diferente y investigue hasdta que supe que era mentira.
    Como puede haber gente asi??
    tan hija de puta que solo piensan en estafar, no se ponen en el lugar del otro!
    Juegan con las necesidades de la gente.

    es un horror

    >> Google Translation <<
    I had sent a different and investigate hasdta I knew that was a lie.
    How can people be so?
    as the daughter of a whore who only think about fraud, are not put in the place of the other!
    Playing with people’s needs.
    is a horror.

  16. Tatiana,

    I agree with you on that. These people have no scruples at all.

    Michael

    >>Google Translation <<

    Tatiana,

    Estoy de acuerdo con usted en eso. Estas personas no tienen escrúpulos en absoluto.

    Michael

  17. Msian says:

    wat a stupid email..

    Ecowas Donations 2009
    101 Yakubu Gowon Cresent
    &n bsp; Abuja, Nigeria.

    This is to inform you that you have won a prize money of One Million Three Hundred And Fifty Thousand United States Dollars, (US$1,350,000.00) for this year 2009 Lottery promotion which is organized by ECOWAS DONATIONS 2009.

    ECOWAS DONATIONS 2009, collects all the email addresses of the people that are active online, among the millions that subscribed to the Internet, we only select five people every Year as our winners through electronic balloting System without the winner applying,we congratulate you for being one of the people selected.

    You are to contact the events manager on or before your date of Claim,Winners Shall be paid in accordance with his/her Settlement Centre.
    Ecowas Donations Prize must be claimed no later than 20 days from date of Draw Notification after the Draw date in which Prize has won.Any prize not claimed within this period will be forfeited.

    These are your identification numbers:
    Batch number…………………ECW 09102XN Reff number…………………..ECW35447XN
    Winning number……………….ECW09788

    These numbers fall within your Location file, you are requested to contact the event manager/Claims Department, send your winning identification numbers to him,to enable him verify your claims.

    You are required to filling in and submitting the necessary processing information to this office.

    VERIFICATION AND FUNDS RELEASE FORM
    1:Full Name:——————
    2:Home Address:———–
    3:Sex:—————————-
    4:Age:—————————-
    5:Tel Number:—————
    6:Country:———————-
    7:Winning number——–
    8.Occupation………………

    (CONTACT FINANCE DEPARTMENT)

    Executive Sec. Mr. Ribery Kocksen
    mail: riberyskocksen01@live.com

    Thank you and Accept my hearty congratulations once

    Regards,
    Mr. James Fisher

  18. Msian,

    stupid or not, these people obviously have success with it.

    Michael

  19. lahrichi says:

    Dear:Lucky Winner

    We are pleased to inform you of the
    final announcement that you are one
    of our winners of the Ecowas Diplomatic Lottery
    held on January 9TH, 2009.
    You have won for your self
    a total sum of 1,000,000 POUNDS
    STERLING.

    FILL THE CLAIMS FORM BELOW AND SEND

    TO OUR CLAIMS AGENT FOR VERIFICATION

    1. Full Names:
    2. Address:
    3. Age:
    4. Sex:
    5. Marital Status:
    6. Occupation:
    7. Phone numbers:
    8. Country:

    CONTACT MR. MR.Williams George

    CONFIRMATION!!!
    NAME: MR.Williams George
    EMAIL:ecowas_d_l1414@hotmail.com

  20. Hi Lahrici,

    they just keep on coming in, don’t they?

    Michael

  21. RAGEGLENN says:

    yes i agree i received also the problem is i replied to the email and i give the personal info…. but i never sent money to the western union im not stupid as wat tehy know

  22. Good for you :-)

    Michael

  23. Atanu Das says:

    Hi,

    I am atanu das. I have received this kind of mail. And i have paid some amount like 90000 Inidian Rs. Still i am getting assurance that i will get winning amount. Last one month i am having the same. Can you please suggest me what is the way to get back my money what i have deposited 2 indian account?

    Regards,
    Atanu Das

  24. Atandu,

    I recommend you stop sending them any money. I am sorry to tell you this, but there is no way you can get your money back.

    These crooks only want one thing – to get you to voluntarily give them your money.

    Sure, they will keep on telling you that you will get the cash, as long as you keep on sending them money.

    Ther is no way you will ever get any money from them.

    Sorry, but that is the way it is.

    Michael

  25. Rob says:

    Isn’t it easy to spot them because random goodluck events just don’t happen in real life? at least not in mine anyway

    Robs last blog post..Rambert, Eternal Light

  26. Rob,

    exactly!

    Michael

  27. Eric says:

    Hey–I only won $750,000!! see scam email below:

    Flag this messagecongratulationsFriday, May 29, 2009 11:35 AM
    From: “TIMOTHY WILMETTI” Add sender to ContactsTo: undisclosed-recipients

    congratulations, you just won $750,000 in the on going 2009 Ecowas Online Email Lottery with serial Number 3187-17 and lucky number 3-17-8-28 55,organized for all email users. Claims Contact Details Below

    Claims Agent:Mr albert zain
    E-mail:tonyecowasdepartment@w.cn
    Office Phone Number:+2347035793908
    1.FullNames. 2.Home Address.
    3.Age. 4.Sex. 5.Occupation.
    6.Phone Number. 7.Nationality.

    CONGRATULATIONS,
    MR CARLO GHEZZI
    LOTTERY PRESIDENT

  28. Eric,

    that is really bad luck! Maybe the Africans are getting stingy – the world finance crisis is probably getting to them too.

    Michael

  29. Suri says:

    Even in India we receive these stupid e-mails, thank god i decided to check their identity, here’s their latest version :P , ya, i guess these africans have gotten really stingy with their money,

    Ecowas New Year Donations 2009
    101 Yakubu Gowon Cresent
    Asokoro District P.M.B. 401
    Abuja, Nigeria.
    Tel: +234-80-6599-2905 +234-80-6599-2905
    Website:www.ecowas.int

    This is to inform you that your E-mail Address has won you a prize money of Eight Hundred And Fifty Thousand United States Dollars, ($850,000.00) for the new year 2009 Lottery promotion which is organized by ECOWAS DONATIONS BOARD 2009.ECOWAS DONATIONS 2009.

    collects all the email addresses of the people that are active online, among the millions that subscribed to the Internet.we only select five people every Year as our winners through electronic balloting System without the winner applying,we congratulate you for & nbsp;being amongest the lucky onece selected.

    These are your identification numbers:

    Batch number…………………ECW 09102XN
    Reff number…………………….ECW35447XN
    Winning number……………….ECW09788

    These numbers fall within your Location file, you are requested to contact the events manager/Claims Department, send your winning identification numbers to him,to enable him verify your claims.

    We advice you call on this number +234-80-6599-2905 +234-80-6599-2905 for confirmation and to speak with the claims agent (Mr.Aminu Musa)

    (CONTACT FINANCE DEPARTMENT VIA EMAIL)

    Name: Mr.Aminu Musa
    Tel: +234-80-6599-2905 +234-80-6599-2905
    E-mail:ecowasdonationboard09@gmail.com

    THIS FORM SHOULD BE FILED BY THE DONATION GRANT OF THE STATED FUND FOR VERIFICATION BEFORE PROCESSING THE DONATION:

    FULL NAME:
    RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS:
    OCCUPATION:
    DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH:
    COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE:
    TEL NO:
    FAX:
    WINNING EMAIL:
    WINNING NUMBER:
    BATCH NUMBER:

    Thank you and Accept my hearty congratulations once again!

    Yours faithfully,
    Mrs.Florence Mina.
    ONLINE CO-DINATOR
    what a madness these are :(

  30. Thanks Suri.

    it amazes me that they are still using this. I guess they are just plain lazy.

    Michael

  31. lee says:

    why they still using this fool method. any will believe ?????

  32. As long as it brings in Money, they will use it.

    Michael

  33. Tex says:

    They are getting lazier as well as stingier, the ones I used to get obviously took a full day for them to write plus they used to sometimes use a dictionary to look up big words like promotional instead of shortening it to Promo. And you have to love that Dear[colon]winner[comma]. Professional writing like this makes me believe in my good fortune. If they would apply the same effort to working as they do scamming, they could probably be productive people. This is the full text of the one I got today:

    CONGRATULATIONS!!!
    Dear:winner,

    You have been awarded £850,000 from the OXFAM GB – UK
    the cash/grant donation Promo for GlobalFinancial Economic Uplift.
    For disbursement, Contact Dr.Jommy Jacob.
    via e-mail (oxfam01@8u8.com)

    Name:
    Country:
    Age:
    Phone Number:
    Gender:
    Occupation:
    Your Qualification Number (OG/N231/E101/BDB)

    Ben Andrew
    Program co-ordinator

  34. Tex,

    you are right about that. Unfortunately, in Africa everyday life has different rules to those that we know and take for granted.

    Michael

  35. kim says:

    I recieved a similiar e-mail from EWCOWAS, but i had won $6 million, lucky me. I have looked at the dates on these messages and cannot believe that they are still at it. Obviously its still working. I feel so sorry for the people who have lost the money, but they are still doing it so people must still be paying them. Thank goodness for people like mike who let us know about it so we dont fall for it as nobody else seems to bother.

  36. SHAMBHUGOPAL says:

    I Receive a mail on my EMAIL Address From EMAIL
    VITTORIO FONDAZIONE
    .
    You were selected among the lucky recipients to receive the award sum of US$100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million United States Dollars) as charity donations/aid from the France Foundation, ECOWAS and the UNO in accordance with t he enabling act of Parliament. Contact Executive Secretary – Claudio Giovanni for cliams Email: mrcarloghezzi231@hotmail.com

    but i always check on Google and found they are scamer ,Thanks to Google ,I want to put this information here because of aware the other people ,

  37.  
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