419 scam: "INSPECTOR Michael Rgrosales"<caribou50@juno.com> FROM INTERPOL

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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:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: "INSPECTOR Michael Rgrosales" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <michael.rgrosales@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2023 10:14:36 -0700
Subject: FROM INTERPOL

Attention Beneficiary, This is fraud investigating from
international police London,attached to the United Nations Office In
Africa In conjunction with the world Authorities and other Internet
crime fighting agencies around the world. Please be informed that we
have just arrested the people who defrauded you through online
winnings,inheritance transfer and contract payments. We scrutinized
their data through the Western Union database in Africa and USA and
was able to apprehend some of them. We have frozen their asset and
hence handover to the court for prosecution. According to the Supreme
Court Requisition Order, we were authorized to refund back 99% of
their seized assets to you as part of the compensation to victims of
fraud.

To administer the process, the 99% refund is totaling at USD
5,800,000.00 , it shall be paid back to you through our Authorized
payment bank.All you need to do is, forward your full Name and Address
and Telephone Number to us. We will activate your payment and instruct
partner Bank to effect the payment to you. You're advice to halt any
further communication with anyone promising you any fund from anywhere
as further investigation is still in progress.

Best regards,
Mr. Rodel M. Rgrosales
Call or text 202 810 0366

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam