Advice Regarding Advance Fee Fraud (also known as "4-1-9 Fraud") Emails

Virtually every person with an email account may have received at least one version of the infamous "advance fee fraud" email. The emails are often very creative and innovative, but they all share one common trait: They're all bogus and designed to swindle people out of their money.

More information about these schemes can be found at this website: http://www.secretservice.gov

Here is the U.S. Department of State's guidance on what to do:

1. Destroy any faxes, emails, letters, or documents of any type requesting the transfer of monies to your personal bank account(s).

2. Ignore future contact with any "official" representing a foreign government or agency soliciting participation in any such scheme.

3. If you are overseas and have fallen victim to one of these schemes, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy.

4. If you have fallen victim to one of these schemes, you may also contact the nearest U.S. Secret Service Office.

A list of domestic and overseas field offices can be accessed at the following website: http://www.secretservice.gov/field_offices.shtml

5. Note that there is no need to contact the Secret Service if you have not fallen victim to the scheme.