Back to Advance-Fee Loan Release Scam

This is a version of Advance-Fee Loan Release Scam.

Homeland Security 'Fund Release Agreement' Fee with Fake Certificate

An email pretends to be from “Homeland Security” and says you must pay a final fee so your funds can be released. It uses a non-government sender address (homeland5ecurity@financier.com) and attaches a formal-looking “Fund Release Approval Certificate” to pressure you to pay.

Homeland Security 'Fund Release Agreement' Fee with Fake Certificate | Primary Image

What’s different in this version

These traits set this message apart from the usual pattern.

  1. Impersonates a U.S. government agency (“Homeland Security”) to sound official

  2. Uses a non-government email with a number swap (homeland5ecurity@financier.com)

  3. Demands an upfront “final” fee to release funds (advance-fee tactic)

  4. Includes an official-looking but fake certificate from a made-up entity

  5. Contains grammar errors, odd capitalization, and mismatched names/beneficiaries

  6. Adds urgency with payment deadlines and “final process” wording

  7. Provides no legitimate contact details or .gov email address

How this scam works

  1. 1

    Step 1: You receive an email, text, or call saying a large payment or loan has been approved and is ready to be released to your bank.

  2. 2

    Step 2: They say a smaller fee is still outstanding (for example, a R6,000 ‘release’ or ‘processing’ fee) and must be paid first.

  3. 3

    Step 3: To make it believable, they may claim an “agent” already made a partial deposit on your behalf, or they’ll list a business address or website.

  4. 4

    Step 4: After you pay, they invent new reasons to collect more fees — taxes, delays, compliance checks — or stop replying altogether.

✓ Do this

  • Pause and verify: contact the company using the phone number on its official website you find yourself (not numbers in the message).
  • Log in to your bank or lender account directly to confirm any promised funds.
  • Talk it over with a trusted friend or family member before sending any money.
  • Report the message to your bank and your national consumer/financial regulator.

✗ Avoid this

  • Do not pay any upfront fee to receive a loan, prize, inheritance, or payout.
  • Do not trust emails sent from free addresses (like Gmail) that pretend to be a company.
  • Do not send money by bank transfer, gift cards, vouchers, or crypto to release funds.
  • Do not click links or open attachments from unexpected messages promising money.

Verbatim excerpts from the scam

Exact lines from emails or messages—searchable text so you can compare wording.

  1. 1 Excerpt 1
    From: Homeland Security <homeland5ecurity@financier.com> Subject: Fund Release Agreement Letter To: VICTIM Dear ______ This is to Inform you that some certain amount of money must be paid for the final process of the funds release. Please find the Document attached to this email, Payment confirmation will be strongly needed Director Homeland Security CA
  2. 2 Excerpt 2
    Attachment excerpt (image): CREDIT BOND FINANCE & SECURITY Fund Release Approval Certificate — Certificate No: XXXX AGREEMENT LETTER Dear ________ We continue to accrue on the outstanding tax balance of $1xxxx USD. An Estimate payment schedule must be paid on this day 12th September or before September ________ in other to process the immediate Funds release to ________ or her beneficiary.

Screenshots & Examples