419 scam: "Thomas Clark"<info@usaunit.org> Dear Fund Owner

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "consignment " (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.
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- contactminfo55@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Thomas Clark" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <contactminfo55@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2023 11:20:59 -0700
Subject: Dear Fund Owner

Dear Fund Owner,

I am Thomas Clark a United States of America underground Special investigator. I work with the United States fraud Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Department of Homeland Security.

I specialized in Background Investigations on funds which includes (COMPENSATIONS, INHERITANCE FUNDS OR NEXT OF KIN, Consignment Box, Lotto(r) JACKPOT, LOANS ATM CARD) etc.

I wish to inform you of our successful investigation that was carried out few days ago. It will interest you to know during the course of this investigation, It was truly confirmed that you have 100% Legitimate unpaid transaction and you have every right to claim this funds as you're been confirmed to be the right Beneficiary of the said amount.

I came across your file which was marked X and your released disk painted Red. I took time to study your file and found out that your payment was placed on hold due to the high cost of processing your paper works that are needed to facilitate the release of your pending payment to you.

I has been allotted for the defrayal of your funds in a very flat and translucent means, where you will not have to make any bill. I will use my well respected connection to shelter all the valuable pertinent and applicable papers before I instigate transfer in your favor.

If you're really interested in receiving your unpaid fund; I advise that you get back to me immediately on my private email: contactminfo55@gmail.com

Thomas Clark

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam