419 scam: "Michael A. Hughes" <info@help.com> U.S. INTERPOL Washington DC (Urgent Information)

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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:
- "death certificate" (this phrase is often used in inheritance scams such as next of kin or https://www.419scam.org/419-murdered-businessman.htm">orphan scams. )
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "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)
- "million 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
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.
- us-interpol@gazeta.pl (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Michael A. Hughes" <info@help.com>
Reply-To: usinterpolwashingtondc@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 2024 00:47:39 -0800
Subject: U.S. INTERPOL Washington DC (Urgent Information)

U.S INTERPOL Washington
U.S. National Central Bureau
Washington, DC 20004, USA

Attention:

Foremost, we introduce this commission, The INTERPOL. We fight global crime including internet fraud and money laundering. Our commission has rounded-up well over 27,000 fraudsters and we are still battling these nefarious individuals. We are aware that quite a lot of people have been conned into parting with huge amounts.

The United Nation has vowed to combat these crimes. As such due to their efforts and contributions, we have been able to recover over Four Hundred and Twenty-Two Million United States Dollars (US$422 Million Dollars) to date.

Amongst the details yours was found to include your email. Our aim is to return all lost assets including funds to legitimate individuals identified. After a mandated investigation of the apprehended persons, the United Nations has approved the total sum of US$2,500,000.00 (Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars), as compensation to the funds you lost. This amount will be paid to you in the oncoming days with your cooperation as we commence to conclude the investigation on your case.

Please we want to confirm if it's true that you are DEAD, because we did received a letter from one Mrs Alison Robert two days ago to claim your compensation payment funds valued US$2,500,000.00 (Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars), with your death certificate stated that you got infected with the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and passed on and she related to you is that true? There will be a series of questions we will ask to aid us in rounding-up your case file.

You are therefore given 48 hours to confirm the authenticity of the authorization letter submitted by your family relative If you are still alive, you are to contact us back immediately, because we work 24 hours just to ensure that we monitor all the activities going on in regards to the release of beneficiaries compensation payments to avoid mistransfer or lack of funds as we will not be liable thereafter.

We do hereby ask you to contact this office within 48 hours of receiving this notification. Please respond with your Full Name and Residential Address, Direct Phone Number, A copy of any valid Identification for easy communication for ratification and to redeem your funds.

We await your swift response to this notification through this email address: ( us-interpol@gazeta.pl )

Regards,

Michael A. Hughes
Director
INTERPOL Washington DC.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam