419 scam: "usatreasury" <stlvy@ust.org> From The Desk of US Treasury Deputy Secretary ]1

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "levy " (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. )
- "million united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
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.
- stuartlevyust@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "usatreasury" <stlvy@ust.org>
Reply-To: <stuartlevyust@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 8 Jun 2013 09:19:54 -0400
Subject: From The Desk of US Treasury Deputy Secretary ]1

US Treasury Department
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20220 , United States
Email;stuartlevyust@gmail.com
5/6/13

>From The Desk of US Treasury Deputy Secretary Mr.Neal Wolin

Attention: Beneficiary

We have in our treasury $25 Million United State dollars that was transferred by the Central Bank of Malaysia (BNM) on the 5th June 2013 to the account of one Mr. David Resnick with the below account co-ordinate. We have stopped this transfer from being completed because we discovered some irregularities concerning the funds in transfer and we decided to stop it from getting into the account of this person until we verify our self,if what the transferring bank said is true or false about your funds.

Brian David Resnick
2063 May view Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Bank Account #: 006108970
Swift code #: 122038251
Bank Name : Wilshire State Bank
6350 Pacific Blvd.
Huntington Park, CA 90255

We want you to please tell us if you did truly authorized the change of your account details for the transfer of your beneficiary funds to this person Mr. David Resnick?

Are you sick and dying of cancer that you had to authorized this man to collect your money from the central Bank on your behalf?

We demand the right answer's from you with documents to show that you, at one time did sign written agreement with this man Mr. Resnick to switch the beneficiary account to his own account and help utilize your money.

We demand for an urgent response from you within the next 48hrs or we will have to return the funds back to Central Bank of Malaysia.

Get back to us reconfirming the below details immediately at stuartlevyust@gmail.com:

Occupation:
Residential Address:
Telephone:
Fax:
D.O.B:

Thanks for your co-operation.

Respectfully,

Mr. Stuart Levy
Under-Secretary Financial Surveillance
Usa Treasury.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam