419 scam: "Mrs. Elaine Duke"<info@aol.com> Good News

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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:
- "million united states dollars" (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)
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
- "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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Elaine Duke" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <depathomelandsecuritiy@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 14 Jan 2018 02:40:32 -0000
Subject: Good News

Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, DC 20528, USA

Re: Your Inheritance fund Valued at US$10.7 Million United States Dollars

Good Day Dear Vilius Margis, This is the Department of Homeland Security we have vital mission: to secure the nation from the many threats we face as well as internet Fraud.

This requires the dedication of more than 230,000 employees in jobs that range from aviation and border security to emergency response, from cyber security analyst to chemical facility inspector.

Our duties are wide-ranging, but our goal is clear -keeping America safe.

We are happy to inform you that your funds valued at US$10,700,000.00(Ten million Seven Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) have been approved by the Treasury Department of the United States.

Kindly get back to us for further directives and be noted that the funds is ready for delivery to your home or if you want it to be paid to you via bank to bank wire transfer okay just get back to me as soon as you can and also please stop communicating with Joseph P Clancy because he dose not work with the homeland security anymore okay.

Thank you and have a good day.

Signed:
Mrs. Elaine Duke
Director, United States Secret Service,
Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam