419 scam: "Mr. Paul Wilson"<info@dhs.org> U.S Department Of Homeland Security (DHS)

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- "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)
- ",000,000" (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)
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.
- hmls_gov@usa.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Paul Wilson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <hmls_gov@usa.com>
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2014 20:57:58 -0300
Subject: U.S Department Of Homeland Security (DHS)

U.S Department Of Homeland Security (DHS)
Paul Wilson. Acting Chief Privacy Officer/Chief FOIA Officer
The Privacy Office: 245 Murray Drive SW, Building 410 Stop-0655V
Washington DC. 20528-0655

Attention: Beneficiarry,

This is to intimate you of a very important information which will be of a great help to redeem you from all the difficulties you have been experiencing in getting your TEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS ($10.000 000 USD) long over due payment to excessive demand for money from you by both corrupt Bank officials and Courier Companies after which your fund remain unpaid to you.

I am Paul Wilson,a highly placed officer of the homeland security united state. It may interest you to know that reports have reached our office by so many correspondence on the uneasy way which people like you are treated by various Banks and Courier Companies across Europe, and Asia and we have decided to put a stop to that and that is why I was appointed to handle your transaction here in Washington DC. 20528-0655 United State.

You are hereby advised not to remit further payment to any institutions with respect to your transaction as your fund will be transferred to you directly from our source. I hope this is clear. Any action contrary to this instruction is at your own risk.

Take Note: Since a special payment arrangement has been made to TRANSFER this fund to you therefore, you are to choose the best option for you to receive your fund.

Please Choose From The Below Optional Payment Preferences Of Receiving Your Fund:

1. Online Banking Wire Transfer
2. Cash Or Check Delivery.
3. ATM MASTER VISA CARD.

CONTACT THE DIRECT OFFICER IN CHARGE:

Office Name:U.S Department Of Homeland Security (DHS)
Chief FOIA Officer: Paul Wilson
Email Address: hmls_gov@usa.com

NOTE: The remmmiting bank will charge $201.5 being 0.002% of your entire funds of $10,000,000USD(Non-deductible),this fee is for the Clearance of the Tax your Fund has incurred while being deposited in the bank. This fee will go to the IRS and must be cleared before the funds release according the Laws of the United state regarding such monetary matters.

Sincerely,

Paul Wilson
Debt Reconciliation Officer, Department of Homeland Security U.S

Confidentiality caution: The information contained in this email is confidential and privileged and should not be disclosed to third parties without the sender’s consent. If you are not the intended recipient, please immediately notify the sender and destroy it (and any attachments) without using, copying, storing and/or disseminating to any person, any of its contents.

Disclaimer: No liability is accepted in respect of any communication made by any employee that is contrary to corporate policy or outside the scope of employment of the individual concerned.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam