419 scam: "Patrick Douglas"<info@usa.org> Confidential Important 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:

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:
- "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. )
- "the 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)
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Patrick Douglas" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <infodatabase31@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 10 Aug 2019 02:20:19 -0700
Subject: Confidential Important Information

For your immediate attention

I am a United Nations special agent designated by the UN Security Council to investigate money laundering, terrorism financing & all related acts currently stationed at Harts-field Jackson Atlanta International Airport Atlanta, Georgia USA, conducting forensic check on all abandoned diplomatic consignment in USA Airports and upon a closer analysis of a particular consignment tagged in your name, I discovered it have been abandoned at the facility for various reasons and after it was put through scanning, it revealed that it contains legitimate cash with a rough estimation of above Six Million USD.

I resolved to contact you after due consideration for us to collectively unhook and retrieve the box of money for our mutual benefits, because without you no one can legally claim the box. I will complete the delivery of the box to your nominated address ONLY if you would agree to share the money with me on the ratio of 20% of the total contains of the box to me and 80% to you, since the other parties abandoned the consignment and disappeared without trace. More detailed information will be released to you immediately you reply this E-mail with the subject matter.

Awaiting your prompt response.

Best Regards

Patrick Douglas

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam