Who likes threats?
Nobody, as it turns out. That hasn’t stopped scammers from jumping on the menacing email train – next stop, your inbox.
Every now and then, we see the 419 “Hitman deployed to kill you” missive doing the rounds. On a similar threatening note, we have a fake DHS notification telling you to pay a $350 fee within 24 hours – or else.
The email reads as follows (we’ve put the meatiest threats in bolded text):
Attention:
You are to contact the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Washington, D.C to obtain your Clearance Certificate, find below their contact information:
Contact Person: Stevan Bunnell General Counsel U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Washington DC Mailing Address U.S. Department of Homeland Security Washington, D.C. 20528.Ensure you contact (DHS) with your Full Name, Address and phone number/cell number. Contact the DHS via Email with the information above immediately, once you contact them I will get back to you or else I will have an agent come visit you at home for questioning.
Furthermore, be advised that according to the United State Law together with the Federal Bureau of Investigation rules and regulations, you are to obtain the document from the DHS. Also note that you are to take care of the cost of the Clearance Certificate, which will be issued in your name. Due to the content of the Clearance Certificate and how important and secured the document is, you as the beneficiary will send the DHS the sum of $350 Dollars only for the issuing of the Clearance Certificate. That is the lay down rules for the DHS to release such sensitive document; DHS will issue you the authentic and original copy of the Clearance Certificate with a seal on it for verification and approval.
You are hereby advised to Contact them through the email address above to make an inquiry concerning how you will send the official fee to them. Note that you are to observe this immediately, if you really want your funds to be credited to your personal bank account and to avoid any legal battle with the security operatives over this matter. We have already informed the DHS about the present situation go ahead and contact them immediately. Your funds are under our custody and will not be released to you unless the required document is confirmed, after that the fund will be release to you immediately without any delay.
NOTE: We have asked for the above document to make available the most completed and up-to date records possible for no criminal justice purposes. The documents will clarify the intensity of this fund; exonerate it from money laundry, scam and terrorism.
WARNING: Failure to provide the above requirement in the next 24 hours, legal action will be taken immediately by arresting and detaining you as soon as international court of justice issues a warrant of arrest, if you are found guilty, you will be jailed as terrorism, drug trafficking and money laundering is a serious problem in our community today and the world at large. The F.B.I will not stop at any length in tracking down and prosecuting any criminal who indulges in this criminal act. Nobody is above the law and the law is not a respecter of anybody. We presume you are law abiding and would not want to have scuffles with the authority, in and outside of the United States.
We are charged with the responsibility of implementing legal norms and our authority is irrevocable so don’t dare dispute our instruction, just act as instructed. The person you know will not help you in this matter rather abide by this instruction.
Note: You are to contact DHS with your full names, phone number/cell number and full address via the email which I stated above immediately, for the processing of your Clearance Certificate within the next 48 hours.
Faithfully Yours Thomas Dinapoli Office of the New York State Comptroller
That’s quite the barrage of “pay up”, and could well scare some people into handing over whatever the scammers ask for (and we’d be surprised if they stop at the $350). Should you receive one of these emails, simply delete it and go on with your day – nobody is coming to collect money from you.
Christopher Boyd
