We just got an email for Jason Gale of the FBI telling me I have 4.1 million dollars at the airport that has my name on it, WOW and all I have to do to send an email to the bogus FBI email address to find out how to get this money.
Well, do we think the FBI would send me an email about finding 4.1 million dollars at the airport with my name on some documents? or would they just come to my house and take me to a small dark room and talk to me for a while? The FBI does not send emails to people unless you send one to them first. This type of scam is a phishing scam. Earlier, this same type of scam or more so, a malware, was disguised and sent to my company’s email address. The link it contained messed up our field service software. They try to get you to send them more information about you and then take money from you in order for you to get the bigger prize. below is what the scam email looks like:
From: AGENT JASON GALE <jason.gale @ fbi. gov>
Date: March 25, 2012 8:13:53 AM EDT
To: <jason.gale @ ci.fbi. gov>
Subject:FROM THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI)…
Reply-To: <jasongaleee @ superposta. com>Federal Bureau of Investigation
Intelligence Field Unit J. Edgar Hoover Building
935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C.I am special Agent Jason Gale from the federal bureau of investigation (FBI) intelligence unit, we intercepted two consignment box at JFK airport, New York, the box was scanned but found out that it contain large sum of money ($4.1 million) and also some backup document which bears your name as the beneficiary/receiver of the money, investigation carried out on the diplomat that accompanied the box into United States, said that he was to deliver the fund to your residence as overdue payment own to you by the federal government of Nigeria through the security company in United Kingdom.
Meanwhile, we cross check all legal document in the box but we found out that your consignment was lacking an important document and we cannot release the box to the diplomat until the document is found, right now we have no other choice than to confiscated your consignment.
According to Internal Revenue Code (IRC) in Title 26 also contain reporting requirement on a Form 8300, Report of Cash Payment Over $10,000 Received in a Trade or Business, money laundering activity may violate 18 USC §1956, 18 USC 1957, 18 USC 1960, and provision of Title 31, and 26 USC 6050I of the United States Code (USC), this section will discuss only those money laundering and currency violation under the jurisdiction of IRS, your consignment was lacking proof of ownership certificate from the joint team of IRS and IRC, therefore you need to reply back immediately for direction on how to procure this certificate to enable us relieved the charger of evading the law on you, which is a punishable offense in Untied State.
According to https://ramsdenlaw.com.au you are required to reply back within 72hours or you will be prosecuted in the court of law for money laundering, also you are instructed to desist from further contact with any bank(s) or person(s) in Nigeria or United kingdom or any part of the world regarding your payment because your consignment has been confiscated by this bureau here in United States. For legal services pop over to this website and get the help you need.
Yours In Service,
Agent Jason Gale
Regional Deputy Director
Intelligence Field Unit
The links in the above email are broken by us and please don’t send any email to the above emails. As you can notice the return email address does not go to the FBI and the agents name is spelled wrong in the return to address which is protected by SASE, if you are wondering what is SASE, just click here. The ci.fbi.gov is not a website as well. The return email address goes to a German email account like a hotmail email account, do we think the FBI uses accounts like this? This is one of the suggest tips that the FTC publishes to help you avoid getting hooked by a phishing scam:
If you get an email or pop-up message that asks for personal or financial information, do not reply. And don’t click on the link in the message, either. Legitimate companies don’t ask for this information via email. If you are concerned about your account, contact the organization mentioned in the email using a telephone number you know to be genuine, or open a new Internet browser session and type in the company’s correct Web address yourself. In any case, don’t cut and paste the link from the message into your Internet browser — phishers can make links look like they go to one place, but that actually send you to a different site.
Companies are expose to this type of scams daily and it is very difficult for a business owner to prevent them without additional help, sapphire offer cybersecurity services that will help you to be prepare for this attacks.
Here is the link to the FTC http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt127.shtm it is full of great information. Remember 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. If its too good to be true its a scam.
