419 scam: "William Barr United States Attorney General" <attywilli@gov.cojm> From The Desk of United States Attorney General 195.154.44.76

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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:
- "required fee " (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. )
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- attorneygeneral85th@usa.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "William Barr United States Attorney General" <attywilli@gov.cojm>
Reply-To: attywilliambarr63@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2020 14:25:29 +0200
Subject: From The Desk of United States Attorney General 195.154.44.76

Abandoned Fund

I, Mr. William Pelham Barr United States Attorney General is here to inform you about your fund payment file which was brought to my office by Mr. Kristalina Georgieva Managing Director International Monetary Fund IMF for my signature to confiscate your transaction with them said to be originated from West Africa Benin Republic . According to Mrs. Kristalina Georgieva she said that I should sign power of attorney to divert your fund to Government Treasury account just because you can not afford to pay the required fee Which is 300.00 dollars before you can receive your fund, in her words She said that you abandon your fund for some time now without hearing from you, but I know the value and the important of what you are about to loose so I told her to wait until I heard from you today and know the reason why you rejected such amount of (4.5 million) United States Dollars Inherited/compensation Fund which I know it will change your life future initially. Dear I do not see any reason why you should abandon your compassion fund because of 300.00 dollars.

I want your urgent response as soon as you receive this email, to explain to me the reason you abandon your compassion fund to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or if you do not need it again then I will send you a power of attorney, which you will sign, and it will diverted Government Treasury account. I will wait to hear from you.

I expect your reply today.
Please be very honest with your reply
Have a nice day and Stay Safe during this Pandemic disease

Best Regards
Mr. William Pelham Barr
United States Attorney General
Email-Address ( attorneygeneral85th@usa.com )
Phone-Number (202) 893-9936 Text only
950 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20530, United States

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam