419 scam: "Michael A. Hughes/INTERPOL" <CLAINS@INTERPOL.INT> INTERPOL REWARD CLAIMS.

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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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Michael A. Hughes/INTERPOL" <CLAINS@INTERPOL.INT>
Reply-To: sjchae@medaxell.com
Date: 8 Jul 2022 17:41:21 +0200
Subject: INTERPOL REWARD CLAIMS.

INTERPOL Washington D.C.
U.S. National Central Bureau
INTERPOL HQ Homepage.

Attention Beneficiary,

This is to officially inform you to know that your email account
has been selected among the random draws done by the U.S.
Department of the Treasury and your email account has won Fifteen
Million U.S Dollars only (US$15,000,000.00) free donation for
charity purposes.

Please contact me by replying to this email address for guidance
of your claim with below information:

YOUR NAME:
ADDRESS:
PHONE NUMBER:
AGE:
COUNTRY:
OCCUPATION:

Only responses to this email will be highly acknowledged!

Thank you very much for your cooperation in advance as we
earnestly await your urgent response to this matter.

Regards,

Michael A. Hughes
Director
INTERPOL Washington

INTERPOL Washington Mission Statement

The mission of INTERPOL Washington, the United States National
Central Bureau, is to advance the law enforcement interests of
the United States as the official representative to the
International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) [external
link]; to share criminal justice, humanitarian, and public safety
information between our nation's law enforcement community and
its foreign counterparts, and to facilitate transnational
investigative efforts that enhance the safety and security of our
nation.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam