Complaint Review: Ecowas Security & Vaults

Pastor Jose is quadriplegic and his first language is Spanish. This makes writing an involved and important document such as this difficult. Therefore the following was written under his direction by a friend.

Please note that the scam described below is currently ongoing. Although Jose has learned through the Internet that he is the victim of a variant of the 'Nigerian Scam', the culprits are still communicating with him and are awaiting further payments (the sum to date is over $11,000). Jose wants to cooperate with any law enforcement agencies who would like to take advantage of his ongoing relation with these culprits. He is not sure how to handle ongoing communications, and would welcome advice.

The story begins with Jose joining a "Friend Finder Personals Network" at http://bigchurch.com early in 2003. After a month he made the acquaintance of one Zainab Aziz (email address: zain_aziz2003@yahoo.co.uk). After a few email exchanges, she described herself as a 21 year old orphan who is desperate to flee Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. Not only was her country experiencing a dangerous revolution, but her father had just been murdered by his own brother (ie. the girl's uncle). However, before his demise, he allegedly put all the family's liquid assets into a trunk which was on deposit with:
" Mr Fred Martins
Accounts Secretary,
Ecowas security & Vaults Inc,
Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire.
Tel:00225 05057503
Email: admin@ecosecurities1.com"
As things developed, "The Certificate of Beneficiary" for this trunk ('consignment') was transferred from Zainab to Jose. The quoted costs to deliver the consignment' follow:
" COST OF DELIVERY AND HANDLING CHARGES
1.Air Freight/Handling charge: US$2,367.00
2.Inter A/lifting Insurance Charge: US$1,950.00
3.International Anti-terrorist
Certificate charge: US$1,250.00
4.Diplomatic Tag charge: US$2,775.00

Total charges payable: US$8,342.00"

Jose agreed to pay $5,000 and Zainab promised to pay the balance. Two things went awry however: 1st) Zainab was expected to leave with the 'consignment' and meet Jose in Honduras but some how Ecowas security & Vaults Inc sent the 'consignment' off without her. 2nd) the 'consignment' got hung up in Amsterdam and now 9,218 Euros were still due; this time to - Denton Primer Security and Finance, Amsterdam (www.dentonprimer.com).

Regarding the 'consignment' a Mr Jean Didier, (Director Ecosecurities, Abidjan) described it as follows:
"The weight of the consignment number :UT/2000/0814MA deposited by Mr.Mustapha Aziz in our custody is, 77 Kg, and the dimension is, 24 inchs by 40 inchs 24/40."

Regarding the extra money now needed Mr Jean Didier explained it thus: "This is to inform you that we have carried out our investigations and also been in contact with Holland. We have been well informed that the the reason for the consignment being delayed in Holland, is due to the recent laws enarked by the government of that country.

As a result of this, the customs in Holland wanted to open your consignment for inspection, but with our agents assistance there, they were able to retreive your consignment from the customs safely after paying the sum 9,218 Euro, they want this amount to be paid to them immediately to enable them deliver the consignment to you in the shortest possible time.

We were also able to clarify them on the said documents requested after forwarding to them the documents for clarification and verification. All you need to do urgently, is to contact Mr Jones Meer our representative to co-operate and conclude with him on the issue."

This resulted in Jose agreeing to pay another $6,000 to DIM PEACE and SCHIPRAS BERRY of Denton Primer at Corsicaweg 24-26 Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Jose was assured by Mr Jones Meer that his payment would guarantee the safe delivery of the 'consignment' to Honduras (where the balance would then be paid). Unfortunately, after the $6,000 was remitted Jose was told that due to a change in management no 'consignments' could be released until paid in full.

Mean while, Zainab was pleading with Jose for $3000 to fly her from Abidjan to Honduras so she could be with him. However, he only had $150 left. So Jose sent this to her for food and shelter.

Jose received a phone call just after the 'consignment' was shipped to Holland without Zainab. The caller supposedly was the Pastor of BigChurch. He said Zainab wanted him to call Jose and say that she was desperately ill in a hospital. Jose later asked Zainab what was wrong and she only said that she completely lost control after hearing the bad news about the 'consignment'.

All payments by Jose were made through Western Union. And most recently Denton Primer Security and Finance has been bought out by:
CITY FINANCE AND SECURITY SERVICES.
(CITY BANK OF AMSTERDAM.)
AMSTERDAMSWEG 30,1102SE AMSTERDAM,THE NETHERLANDS.
CONTACT PERSON:Mr.Jones Meer(Director of Operations.)
Direct Telephone Number :0031-630-536-102

The above, I believe, covers the more salient points.

Most of the first year's email of this story is in "Microsoft Outlook" and then Jose changed to "Outlook Express". Probably 90% or more of the email exchanges are intact, with just some of Jose's email missing (however most of his writing is repeated in "quotes" from other email).

It occurs to me that if Jose encountered the right law enforcement authorities he could release any and all the email and documents relating to this case and also allow the use of his email account. Therefore said authorities could take over execution of this matter (after reading through all the correspondence qualified police agents could then continue the ongoing dialogue as Jose). While Jose has lost just about all his savings from over the past 20 years he is primarily interested in stopping these people before they victimize any others. Especially others without the wherewithal to keep such a thing from destroying their lives.

We have two IP addresses to work with. Both were reported by "All4Love Postcards" namely:
"Zainab Aziz of 213.136.107.90 has sent you a virtual greeting card from All4Love Postcards" - - and also:
Zainab Aziz of 193.220.188.187 has sent you a virtual greeting card ..

The most recent phone number for Zainab Aziz is "00225 05079156".
~~
Finally, about 200 email messages regarding this have been received, and all email can be made available to authorities. Following is just the most recent email from Holland complete with all header information:

From ???@??? Wed Oct 20 08:47:49 2004
Return-Path:
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From: "jones meer"
To:
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2004 05:56:16 -0500
Subject: FROM THE DESK OF MR. JONES MEER CITY FINANCE AND SECURITY SERVICES.
X-Originating-Ip: 62.163.42.183
X-Originating-Server: ws1-3.us4.outblaze.com
Message-Id:

Attn: Jose
Sequel to your mail to this office and your request for receipt,I want to inform you that the account department has issued out your receipt and the balanace you have to come up with is stated in the receipt also.Please sign your column,where you the payee signature and send it back to me for documentation because of your signature.

Sir, please find the receipt of payment as I have attached it to this mail.

You are to send the balance of Four thousand two hundred and eighteen euro(4,218euro)through our account department officer' name below.

MR.ROBINSON FRANCIS.
AMSTERDAMSWEG30,1102SE,AMSTERDAM THE NETHERALNDS.

Please as soon as you make the payment endeavour to send me the evidence of payment(MTCN) to enable me forward it to the account department for your consignment to proceed to your country Honduras.

Hope I have informed you correctly.

Looking forward to your quick response.

Best Regards,

Mr.Jones Meer.

(Officer In Charge.)

aTTACHMENT: "Official Payment Receipt.jpg"

Jose
Tegucigalpa
Honduras