SCAM ALERT: No, The Secretary of State Is Not Emailing You

The email claims that you'll get an ATM card worth $1.85 million, money that is supposedly owed to you

Scammers posing as government officials are constantly inventing new tricks. The latest email claims to be from the U.S. Secretary of State, telling you that you’re owed $1.85 million and must pay a $320 processing fee to receive an ATM card loaded with funds. It’s a fraud, nobody at the State Department or any other agency will ever ask you to pay to collect money.

How This Scam Operates

• Pretends to come “officially” from the Secretary of State’s office via spoofed email addresses
• Claims a joint FBI/CIA investigation found unclaimed funds in your name
• Promises an ATM card loaded with a large sum and even supplies a PIN
• Insists you send a fee or provide personal data, Social Security number, bank account, etc.—to unlock the money

Red Flags to Watch For

• Unexpected emails from high-level officials promising large sums
• Requests for advance fees or gift card payments to release funds
• Threats of legal action or arrest if you don’t comply immediately
• Links to unofficial websites or attachments that install malware
• Spelling, grammar errors or generic greetings like “Dear Recipient” instead of your name

Additional Prevention Tips

• Enable email filtering and flag messages that spoof .gov addresses
• Verify any unexpected government correspondence by calling published agency numbers, do not use numbers provided in the email
• Never click links or open attachments in unsolicited emails
• Use strong, unique passwords and two-factor authentication on your email account
• Keep your computer and mobile OS updated to block known phishing and malware exploits
• Educate family members and colleagues, scammers often target seniors and students returning to campus

Reporting Scams in North Carolina

• NC Attorney General’s Consumer Protection: File complaints at ncdoj.gov/complaints or call 1-877-566-7226
• Federal Trade Commission: Report phishing and fraud at reportfraud.ftc.gov
• Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA): Report IRS impersonation or related scams at 1-800-366-4484 or tigta.gov
• Better Business Bureau of Eastern/Western NC: Check scam alerts and accredited charities at bbb.org

Vigilance and verification are your best defenses. Remember that no legitimate agency asks for up-front fees to release funds. If in doubt, hang up or delete the message and report the incident to the proper authorities.