419 scam: Official Duty <usa.dept.customs@gmail.com> Accrued Interest

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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:
- "bank charges " (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. )
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: Official Duty <usa.dept.customs@gmail.com>
Reply-To: officials2yk17@gmx.com
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2023 00:32:51 -0700
Subject: Accrued Interest

Dearest,

I sent a mail to you before, but did not hear from you, however I want you
to know that it is very much important that you reply to this mail and
cooperate with me so that your accrued interest amount of USD3,330,000 will
be paid to you. It is because of the respect I have for you that made me
contact you again just to assist you to receive your ATM Card because of
what you have gone through in the past. Please be informed that I am not
promising to pay your full inheritance/contract fund which the corrupt
officials have colonized but rather I want to pay you only the accumulated
interest which I know it's very possible to pay to you through ATM Card. I
am contacting you in order to pay this accumulated interest amount to you.
This is your chance and opportunity so there is no point delaying or
wasting time.

I am an honorable and sincere man and my words are more than a written
guarantee you can ever think of. I don't believe in protocols. I am given
you my words of honor as a guarantee that I will load the ATM Card with
your accumulated interest amount of USD3,330,000 and have it delivered to
you by EMS Speed post as soon as you confirm your readiness to pay the
courier fee in other to receive your ATM Card through EMS Speed Post
Courier. EMS Speed Post simply means Express Mail Services Speed Post and
it is a Federal Government owned Courier Services Company that is very well
secured and efficient. Note that I have a part to play in this transaction,
therefore be informed that I have paid for the ATM Card processing and bank
charges so it is fair you take care of the courier cost.

You will have nothing to worry about as your ATM Card WILL NOT be stopped
by any Customs, Police or Immigration at your Airport. EMS Speed Post is a
Federal Government Embassy Courier Service Company. Please I am a very busy
man and I would like to have this ATM Card dispatched to you as quickly as
possible hence l will not be available to exchange emails with you at all
times.

So if you are interested in receiving this accumulated interest loaded in
an ATM Card and dispatched to you, then contact me immediately with your
address and telephone number. I really want to assist you and I want you to
forget about your past experience and what you have gone through in the
past and focus on this accumulated interest amount and I assure you that
you MUST receive your ATM Card.

Yours faithfully,

Mr. Chris Innocent
Internet/Computer Banking Department
Central Bank of Nigeria

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam