419 scam: "Timothy Geithner"<uustreasurydeptt@msn.com> US TREASURY DEPARTMENT ALERT [CODE:BLUE

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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:
- "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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
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.
- ustreasryddfin@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Timothy Geithner" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ustreasryddfin@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 22:48:51 +0100
Subject: US TREASURY DEPARTMENT ALERT [CODE:BLUE

US Treasury Department
290 Broadway # 3
New York, NY 10007, United States
Tel;+1 516-740-8887
Fax;+1 509-561-8685
Email;ustreasryddfin@aol.com
From The Desk of US Treasury Secretary Mr. Timothy Geithner

Dear Beneficiary,

We have in our treasury $8. Million United State dollars that was transfered by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on the 12th Jaunary 2010 to the account of one Mr. David Resnick with the below account co-ordinate. We have stoped 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 transfering bank said is true or false about your funds.

Brian David Resnick
2063 Mayview Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Bank Accout #: 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 dieing 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 writen 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 Nigeria.

Get back to us reconfirming the below details immediately:

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