419 scam: info@usa.org COVID-19 Support Funds

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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:
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "million us 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)
- "hundred thousand us 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)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
1. They don't notify winners by email.
2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!

Fraud email example:

From: info@usa.org
Reply-To: rev.michael@daum.net
Date: Thu, 08 Apr 2021 22:42:22 -0700
Subject: COVID-19 Support Funds

Dear Winner,

You are very lucky to receive this email from me, let me say congratulations before I proceed. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, the United State Government made some randomly selected and enlisted from the email addresses database and you are one of the 7 selected winning of COVID-19 approved winners for food supplies. Please refer to the news website below to read more about our plans in helping the world:

https://home.treasury.gov/

The United State Government has secretly selected 7 people WORLDWIDE as COVID-19 Support for food supplies of Six Million Six Hundred Thousand US Dollars. You were randomly selected and to help in getting this done, You will have to use Two Million, Six Hundred Thousand US Dollars for supplies of food to your community and Four Million US Dollars will be yours as the winner and efforts in getting this done.

Kindly confirm with us if you are ready to claim your winnings so as to proceed with the delivery within the next 24 hours of claim. We have been having a hard time getting in touch with you, while waiting for your response.

DISBURSEMENT: All winnings remitted to winners is not a loan. Your winning does not affect your grant benefit and welfare. We will need you to provide some information to confirm your identity so that we are sure that the winning would be delivered to the right winner. There have been cases with theft and false claims. Your winnings will be delivered to you via bank wire transfer of delivery couriers as soon as the information required is duly filled and processed. This means you can either receive Cash or Cheque

CLAIMS: In order to claim your winning, Fill in the following questionnaire respectively.

Full Names :
Full Home Address, City, State and Postcode :
Cell Phone Number :
E-mail :
Occupation :
Date Of Birth :
Marital Status :
Next Of Kin :
Any disabilities :
How would you like to receive your winnings? Cash or Cheque.
Preferred date of winning delivery :

Note:All winning must be remitted to winners within 24 hours after they must have selected a winning amount. All funds will be returned to the Department of Finance treasury account as unclaimed funds if any delays afterwards. Seek advice from our 24 hours online claims agent.

Regards,

Mr. Steven Terner Mnuchin,
Secretary of the Treasury,
U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Tel: 1-800-188-6008

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam