419 scam: "US HOMELAND SECURITY OFFICE"<securitywatch@w.cn> ATTENTION SIR/MADAM" US HOMELANDSECURITY TREAT URGENT.

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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:
- "clearance document" (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. )
- "robert mueller" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real FBI will not tell you to contact some email address. If you are in any doubt, contact an FBI field office via www.fbi.gov. )
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "skye-bnkplc@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "US HOMELAND SECURITY OFFICE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ushomlandsecurity.org@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 07:04:59 -0700
Subject: ATTENTION SIR/MADAM" US HOMELANDSECURITY TREAT URGENT.

Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Privacy Office Director, Disclosure & FOIA
245 Murray Drive SW, Building 410 STOP-655
Washington, DC 20528-0655
FOIA Officer: Catherine M. Papoi, J.D., CIPP/G
FOIA Requester Service Center Contact: Vania T. Lockett, CIPP/G
Phone: 703-235-0792
865-432-0864
Fax: 703-234-0443

Attention Beneficiary"

We write to inform you that we intercept United Nation Diplomatic Agent with a full loaded INTERSWITCH ATM VISA CARD worth’s of ($5.5Million USD). The Agent Declared that you are the rightful owner of the said amount found programmed in the INTERSWITCH ATM VISA CARD.Then i the Chief homeland security officer David Satcher in Dc, and Robert Mueller (III), THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI) WASHINGTON DC.We have investigated the legal documents found from the Diplomat, which stated your name as the beneficiary/consignee of the said ATM VISA CARD.

The First Page Documents we found from the Agent indicated that the funds inside the INTERSWITCH ATM VISA CARD were sent from U.S Ambassador Robin Sanders in Nigeria, with the Advise of Pastor John Goodman, from Ohio City in America.

Then the second Page of the Documents Stated that you inherited this funds from one Late Rev.Sister Susan Willy an America who died along with his family by Auto Crash in 2008 June.We have also indeed examined all the due process of this transaction, and we found nothing against it in all Financial Crime Status. Then we want you now to get back to us with the Change of Ownership Legal documents of this claim as to enable us allow your delivery Agent arrive your Home for immediate handover of your package.

But if you don’t have this Change Of Ownership Legal documents, get back to us immediately, or contact the Director SKYE BANK PLC Nigeria yourself MR.KEHINDE DUROSINMU Email: skye-bnkplc@live.com so that you can request for the said clearance documents from them as the origin of your said INTERSWITCH ATM VISA CARD Fund Payment once and for all. And to enable us release your INTERSWITCH ATM VISA CARD for immediate delivery to your destination as scheduled, your immediate responses needed.

Thanks
Regards
Mr. David Satcher

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam