Procurement scams in times of Corona

[firefly]

Victim complaint made on Foreign Trade Knowledge Service Platform, a Chinese forum (translation):

Our company really encountered Togo-Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) contract fraud.

This is a large-scale bidding-purchase of anti-epidemic supplies.

Togo-Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) appointed a Togolese lawyer to request to sign a contract on behalf of our company , The Togolese lawyer asked in advance the contract fee (70%) of US$5495, and the other 30% ($2355) of the contract signing fee has been paid in full. At the same time, legal tax has to be paid for various reasons and the stamp duty totals US$26,590, but the payment has not been received for a long time. Where can foreign trade colleagues report this foreign trade fraud case? Hope that the criminals will be brought to justice and dealt with seriously! Dear foreign trade partners, I hope to work together and pass it on to expose these nasty foreign trade scammers, so as no more Chinese businesses to be deceived by them!

The following Togo-Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS)
Mrs. Grace J. Robert (CAC Secretary) For, Dr. Gabriel Hilary Gbeho (Hon) Chairman/Project Director (Ecowas Togo) Economic Community Of West African State (Ecowas)
Cité Administrative Boulevard Bp 2704 Lome-Togo
Tel: + 22898487231
Email: ecowastogoproject@gmail.com
info.ecowaslt@gmail.com
Site: www. ecowaslt.com

and the following Togolese lawyer
Barrister Frank Antwan (Principal Attorney) G Set Investment Chambers
Rue . 92 Jean Paul 2 BP. Box 3060 Adido-Gome Lome Togo.
Tel: +228 96349131
barrfrankantwan@gmail.com
www. frankantwan.

The purchase is recommended by the following company, and they have to give them a 2% commission. Our company suspects that they are a group of foreign trade fraud. I don't know how many Chinese businesses have been harmed. They must be severely punished!

MR. ALAM JAHANGIR DIRECTOR/CEO AL-AMAAN EXPORT AND IMPORT CO.
LTD 18 NEW ROAD, LONDON, E1 2AX UNITED KINGDOM
WHATSAAPP: +447459 151976
E-MAIL: info.alamexportltd@gmail.com
Party B: Banking Details:
ACCOUNT NAME : AL-AMAAN EXPORT AND IMPORT CO. LTD
BANK NAME: NAT WEST BANK
SORT CODE: 60 09 27
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 3243xxxx
IBAN: GB81NWBK6009273243xxxx
BIC: NWBKGB2L
BANK ADDRESS: 1 WATERHOUSE STREET HALIFAX WEST DOMYORKSHIRE HX1 1JA UNITED KING KINGDOM

[firefly]

The main fake entity used in fraud claims to be Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) and uses a fraudulent website active from the domain name ecowaslt.com.

The real ECOWAS was founded in 1975.

Fraudulent websites pretending to be ECOWAS are reported online since 2004.

The fake one used in this case was registered in June.

From the fake website:

As part of the operationalisation of its Vision 2020, the ECOWAS Commission has adopted an important tool, the Ecowas Project Development Commission (ECOWAS-PDC), for which the formulation has involved major development actors in West Africa, namely, Intergovernmental Organizations, Member States, and Non-State Actors (Civil Society, Private Sector and Researchers).
The Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, in its 45th Ordinary Session, held in July 2014 in Accra, Ghana, adopted by Supplementary Act (A/ SA.04 /07/14), the Ecowas Project Development Commission (ECOWAS-PDC) as a key tool to operationalize the Vision 2020 of ECOWAS.

Procurement is administered by the Procurement Unit (PU), which is responsible for solicitation of offers, awarding and management of contracts and purchase orders in close cooperation with member states. In addition to the centralized procurement, Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) Representatives in the field are authorized to procure local and Foreign goods and services for the requirements of the field offices.

ECOWAS Supplier/ Vendor Registration Process

Information required for each level of registration
Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) requires Supplier/ Vendor to register at Basic level only. Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) may require vendors to provide documentation and additional information in lieu of qualifying the vendor for registration at Level 1 or 2. The level of registration and accompanying requirements are determined by the monetary value of potential contracts. The system is intuitive and will automatically only allow vendors to register for Level 1 and 2 with ECOWAS Community Development Programme (ECOWAS) which make use of these additional qualification levels.
Basic registration requirements
1. General information (name of company, licence number, address, telephone, details of contact persons, etc.).
2. Payment of US$ 300 Vendor/ Supplier Registration Fee.
3. Classification of your goods and services.
Level 1 requirements
4. Criteria 1-3 above.
5. Certificate of incorporation or equivalent document verifying legal status/capacity.
6. Details and email addresses of at least three independent, non-affiliated references whom you have done business with.
7. Names of owner(s) and principals (including parent company, subsidiaries/affiliates, CEO/Managing Director, and those with controlling interests, if applicable). The names of intermediaries, agents and/or consultants, (if any) used in relation to ECOWAS Community Development Programme (ECOWAS) contracts or bids/proposals.
Level 2 requirements
8. Criteria 1-7 above.
9. Reference letters from three independent, non-affiliated clients/companies, you have done business with. Reference letters should be in English and from three independent, non-affiliated clients/companies whom you have sold products and/or services to during the last 12 months preferably with a description of project/work undertaken; and date started/completed and value of project. Reference letters should be prepared/signed on the referee’s letterhead paper and reference should refer to the entity that is seeking registration.
10. Financial documents (audited/certified financial statements or equivalent) for the last three years.

Please note that being registered on Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) procurement database means that the details of your company is part of the database of potential vendors. Please note that once the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) confirm your registration, your company’s profile will be visible to all staff when searching for vendors.

All registered vendors still need to submit quotations/proposals in response to tender notices and comply with quality assurance requirements, where applicable. We recommend that you check the tender notices through registered sourcing agents in Togo daily and respond to notices which correspond to your products and/or services.

Contact details:

Project Building
Cité Administrative
Boulevard BP 2704
Lome, Togo
Dr. Gabriel Hilary Gbeho (HON) Chairman/Project Director (Ecowas-Togo)
Tel: +228 98 48 72 31
Email: info@ecowaslt.com
info.ecowaslt@gmail.com
contractawardcommittee@ecowaslt.com

+22898487231
Number billable as mobile number
Country or destination Togo
Original network provider* Atlantique Télécom Togo SA (MOOV)

Entry in the aa419 Database of fraudulent websites: https://db.aa419.org/fakebanksview.php?key=146216.

From the domain name registration:

Domain Name: ecowaslt.com
Updated Date: 2020-06-12
Creation Date:2020-06-12
Registrar Registration Expiration Date: 2021-06-12
Registrar: OwnRegistrar, Inc.
Reseller: HostNowNow Ltd
Domain Status: ok
Registry Registrant ID: OR_38468
Registrant Name: Forku Angelbert
Registrant Organization: Forku Angelbert
Registrant Street: 69 Mariam Road,Off IBB Way
Registrant City: Calabar
Registrant State/Province: Other
Registrant Postal Code: 540281
Registrant Country: Nigeria
Registrant Phone:+234.7086970667
Registrant Phone Ext: 234
Registrant Email: forku.angelbert@gmail.com

This is what the fake website looks like:

For fake websites used in the same way and operated by the same group of Nigerian fraudsters please see viewtopic.php?f=17&t=86162.

[firefly]

Probate Lawyer / G Set Investment Chambers operates a fake website active from the domain name frankantwan.com.

The content is stolen from a the website belonging to a real law office from Miami.

From the fake website:

G Set Investment Chambers is a Lome, Togo probate law firm providing high quality legal representation to clients throughout the region. Probate attorney and firm founder Frank Antwan has been serving clients for many years, and is dedicated to putting that experience to work for you.

Contact details:

G Set Investment Chambers
Rue. 92 Jean Paul 2
BP. Box 3060 Adido-Gome
Lome Togo.
Tel: +228 963 49131
Email:
barrfrankantwan@gmail.com
info@frankantwan.com

+22896349131
Number billable as mobile number
Country or destination Togo

Fake documents used in fraud:




Bank account used in fraud:

BANK NAME: BANQUE ATLANTIQUE-TOGO
ACCOUNT NAME: G SET INVESTMENT
ACCOUNT NO:04204861xxxxxx
IBAN TG5S3 TG13 8010 0204 2048 61xx xxxx
BANK SWIFT CODE: ATTGTGTGXXX
BANK CODE:TG138 01002
BANK ADDRESS: HEDZRANAWOE ASSIYEYE DER EGLISE LOME,TOGO
PURPOSE OF TRANSFER ( PROJECT SERVICE }

Entry in the aa419 Database of fraudulent websites: https://db.aa419.org/fakebanksview.php?key=145399.

From the domain name registration:

Domain name: FRANKANTWAN.COM
Updated Date: 2020-06-29
Creation Date: 2020-06-29
Registrar Registration Expiration Date: 2021-06-29
Registrar: Registrar of domain names REG.RU LLC

Registry Registrant ID:
Registrant Name: Locaste Beoman
Registrant Organization: Private Person
Registrant Street: 9 Kiolo ROad
Registrant City: Jaomop
Registrant State/Province: Wiggle
Registrant Postal Code: 5489
Registrant Country: AU
Registrant Phone: +61.8950894563
Registrant Email: amandaibe@usa.com

This is what the fake website looks like:

[firefly]

We were unable to find an active website for Al-Amaan Export and Import Co. Ltd, but there is a trading account used by the "company" on EC21:

Dear Sir,

We are a UK based Import and Export company interested to do business with reliable suppliers all over the world.
We are interested in: Mineral/Drinking water and Beverages
Reliable suppliers should contact us quickly through our email and whatsapp number: info.alameeneicltd AT gmail DOT com OR WhatsaApp: +447585515290 for further business discussion.
We are sincerely looking forward to working with you.
Regards

Alam Jahangir
Director/CEO

Email used: info.alameeneicltd@gmail.com

+447585515290
Number billable as mobile number
Country or destination United Kingdom
Original network provider* Vodafone Uk Ltd

Company Basic Information
- Company Name Al-Amaan Export and Import Co. Ltd
- Location Lome
- Business Type
Buying Office
- Year Established 2005
- Employees Total 6 - 10
- Annual Revenue USD 1,000,001 - 2,000,000
- Website-- EC21 Store frontalamaan.en.ec21.com
- Buying Categories Food & Beverage > Cooking Oil
Food & Beverage > Drinking Water
- Keyword Mineral Water, Cooking Oil, Fruit juice, Canned Food
Contact Information
- Address 18 New Road, London, E1 2AX Lome, Togo
- Country/Region Togo
- Phone 228 - 79 - *****
- Contact Alam Jahangir
- Membership Class Free Member
- Membership Year 1 year
- Last Online 4 months ago
- EC21 Registered Date May 22. 2019
- Authentication Unverified
- EC21 Registered IP 196.170.100.*** (Togo).

The real Al-Amaan Export and Import Co. Ltd is a company legally registered in the UK since 2005. The legal registration doesn't mention any Togo location ...

[firefly]

Posted on behalf of the targeted victim.

Hi Scam Survivors,

I have recently encountered 'Alam Jahangir' of AL AMAAN EXPORT & IMPORT. Fortunately, I smelt the scam before it happened but I understand from your site, others have not been so lucky.

I came across this individual ‘Alam Jahangir’ on Exporthub.com, a B2B trading platform. He was acting as an intermediary for his client.The client supposedly being the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

http: // www. ecowaslt.org/index-2.html - FAKE Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) Website stated in email signature.
http: // alamaaneicltduk.com/index-2.html - Fake website
Tel: +44 20 8144 0286 – From AL AMAAN website. Number rang through 2 separate ring
tones with no answer after 25 attempts
WhatsApp: +44 74591 51976 – From AL AMAAN website. Number is disconnected

I hope this information is useful to you and that you're able to use it on your website.

Thank you for your help against these types of pathetic excuses of human life. I appreciate it greatly.

[firefly]

The previous fraudulent domain name used, ecowaslt.com, was suspended on December 30, 2020, after being reported.

Shortly after, the Nigerian fraudster mentioned above registered yet another spoof of the same Ecowas - ecowaslt.org.

From the fake website:

As part of the operationalisation of its Vision 2020, the ECOWAS Commission has adopted an important tool, the Ecowas Project Development Commission (ECOWAS-PDC), for which the formulation has involved major development actors in West Africa, namely, Intergovernmental Organizations, Member States, and Non-State Actors (Civil Society, Private Sector and Researchers).
The Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, in its 45th Ordinary Session, held in July 2014 in Accra, Ghana, adopted by Supplementary Act (A/ SA.04 /07/14), the Ecowas Project Development Commission (ECOWAS-PDC) as a key tool to operationalize the Vision 2020 of ECOWAS.

Procurement is administered by the Procurement Unit (PU), which is responsible for solicitation of offers, awarding and management of contracts and purchase orders in close cooperation with member states. In addition to the centralized procurement, Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) Representatives in the field are authorized to procure local and Foreign goods and services for the requirements of the field offices.

Contact details:

Project Building
Cité Administrative
Boulevard BP 2704
Lome, Togo
Mr. Yawoh T. M. Mawouena.
Ecowas Togo Ambassador/(CAC) Chaiman.
Ecowas Commission Togo
Tel: +228 70 55 92 76
Email: info@ecowaslt.org
info.ecowaslt@gmail.com
contractawardcommittee@ecowaslt.org

+22870559276 - This telephone number is most likely a Togo number. Specific information on this number range is not available. This might mean that this particular telephone number does not exist.

Entry in the aa419 Database of fraudulent websites: https://db.aa419.org/fakebanksview.php?key=149454.

From the domain name registration:

Domain Name: ecowaslt.org
Updated Date: 2021-01-19
Creation Date:2021-01-19
Registrar Registration Expiration Date: 2022-01-19
Registrar: OwnRegistrar, Inc.
Reseller: HostNowNow Ltd
Domain Status: ok
Registry Registrant ID: OR_38468
Registrant Name: Forku Angelbert
Registrant Organization: Forku Angelbert
Registrant Street: 69 Mariam Road,Off IBB Way
Registrant City: Calabar
Registrant State/Province: Other
Registrant Postal Code: 540281
Registrant Country: Nigeria
Registrant Phone:+234.7086970667
Registrant Phone Ext: 234
Registrant Email: forku.angelbert@gmail.com

This is what the fake website looks like:

[firefly]

From the fake website:

Al-Amaan Export & Import Co. Ltd was founded in 1998 by current business owner Alam Jahangir (Prince). We started as a domestic trading company and have become an international trading company with a UK based manufacturing business that turns commodities into ingredients.We major in Dates as well as other dried fruits. We also In fact we are the largest importers of Dates in Europe by a country mile, this year (2015/16) we project we will trade/process upwards of 7,000 metric tonnes. That’s a lot of Dates!We also manufacture The Good Full Stop range of fruit bars.
More on that follows…..We import thousands of tonnes of fruit and serve all the major food businesses in the UK as well as counting 26% of our business as exports.

Contact details:

18 New Road,London,E1 2AX,United Kingdom
Tel: +44 20814 40286
WhatsApp: +44 74591 51976
Email: info@alamaaneicltduk.com, info.alamaaneicltduk@gmail.com

+442081440286
Number billable as geographic number
Country or destination United Kingdom
Original network provider* Vodafone Ltd (C&W)

+447459151976
Number billable as mobile number
Country or destination United Kingdom
Original network provider* Lycamobile UK Limited

Entry in the aa419 Database of fraudulent websites: https://db.aa419.org/fakebanksview.php?key=149455.

From the domain name registration:

Domain Name: alamaaneicltduk.com
Updated Date: 2020-09-17
Creation Date:2020-09-17
Registrar Registration Expiration Date: 2021-09-17
Registrar: OwnRegistrar, Inc.
Reseller: HostNowNow Ltd
Domain Status: ok
Registry Registrant ID: OR_1396
Registrant Name: WhoisSecure
Registrant Organization: WhoisSecure

This is what the fake website looks like: