419 scam: "Attorney. Merrick Garland" <info@attorney.org> United States Department Of Justice

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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:
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
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.
- merrickgarland202@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Attorney. Merrick Garland" <info@attorney.org>
Reply-To: merrickgarland202@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2022 20:54:29 -0800
Subject: United States Department Of Justice

Dear Beneficiary,

I am Attorney Merrick Garland, the United States attorney general. I am mandated to help you in release and processing of your payment.
This is to inform you about your abandon fund $10.5 Million brought to
our office on 22/11/2022 for confiscation due to your inability to claim your fund as the beneficiary.

We received many letters and emails from different people claiming
that you sent them to receive this fund on your behalf, please confirm
if you sent those people to receive your fund on your behalf.

Again, you have until 31/12/2022 to reclaim this fund If you still want to claim your fund Reply back to { merrickgarland202@gmail.com } and tell us the way you wish to receive your fund.

Your urgent feedback is needed.

Best Regards,

Attorney Merrick Garland,
From the Attorney General Office.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam