Victims report receiving an email claiming to be from the Treasury Department, stating their lost funds, which were stolen and diverted to a foreign account registered in their name, have been recovered.

“In order to avoid any further damage and loss of funds, we advise that you desist from further communication with this individuals [who stole the money],” the fraudulent email states. “Give to us full detail on the irregularities on your funds transfer. The United States government is making adequate arrangements to ensure that outstanding beneficiaries receive their funds.”

The email is signed by James H. Freis, deputy director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, and requires victims to provide information that could potentially result in identity theft, the FBI said.

As always, these 419 scam emails are riddled with typos and poor grammar, a tell-tale sign they are not from whom they appear to be.

The suspect, 29-year-old Alice H. Sims, was previously convicted of receiving stolen property and forgery, both felonies for which she received 5- and 3-year sentences, respectively, according to KOAMTV.com.

According to a news release from the Joplin Police Department, a report was filed Dec. 9 in reference to a woman trying to sell a baby via Craigslist. An investigation was launched, and an undercover investigator and a female employee of the Joplin Police Department posed as potential buyers of the baby.

Sims allegedly claimed to be pregnant when the two met with her. She was given a down payment for the supposed unborn baby, and the uncover agents agreed to pay her more after she had given birth and the child was turned over to them. After the transaction, Sims was taken into custody by investigators while she tried to leave the scene.

After interviewing the suspect, investigators determined she was not pregnant and she had allegedly been scamming couples. Further investigation also indicated she had allegedly been in contact with three other potential purchasers.

When customers criticized the goods, Vitaly Borker, aka Tony Russo, allegedly went on foul-mouthed tirades. In an Oct. 27 email to one customer, Borker claimed he would direct an assistant to “crush” the man’s glasses and then “take the pieces of what is left of his glasses and use the label he sent to ship the powder back to him.”

In November, The New York Times detailed how Borker’s rude business manners resulted in the vast number of consumer complaints, causing his online business DecorMyEyes to increase sales thanks to the resulting boost in its Google ranking.

“I’ve exploited this opportunity because it works,” Borker told NYT. “No matter where they post their negative comments, it helps my return on investment. So I decided, why not use that negativity to my advantage?”

When authorities searched Borker’s home, they allegedly found several firearms and ammunition, according to prosecutors. He has been charged with one count each of cyber stalking, making interstate threats, mail fraud and wire fraud, The Register reported.

James Maceo Ramey was found guilty on all 25 counts alleged in an indictment relating to bankruptcy fraud and for running a bogus Internet gold sales company that made more than $300,000.

According to the FBI, Ramey set up and operated a fraudulent online gold website. He set up a business called Manhattan Gold, Inc. and solicited purchases of gold coins, including American Gold Eagles, Australian Kangaroos, South African Kruegerands, Canadian Maple Leafs, and Credit Suisse gold bars. Victims soon realized Ramey had neither gold to sell nor refunds to provide to those he had defrauded.

After five hours of deliberations, the jury returned its verdicts of guilty last Friday afternoon. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 12, 2010. Ramey faces up to five years’ imprisonment for of the 17 bankruptcy fraud convictions, and up to 20 years for the eight mail-fraud convictions.