This one’s rich (no pun intended): A familiar phishing scam that claims federal authorities have seized $4.1 million intended for you from a shady foreign diplomat is again making the rounds.
A surety bond for the princely sum was found in two consignment boxes seized at JFK Airport in Queens, NY, along with documents bearing YOUR name, according to the hoax email.
The author, who claims to be FBI Deputy Director Paul M. Abbate in Washington, D.C., then offers to “walk you through the process of clearing and claiming the money.”
That’s the good news.
“After questioning the diplomat that accompanied the two consignment boxes into the United States, we learned that he was to deliver these two consignment boxes to your residence as an inheritance/winning prize payment due to you,” the email says.
“The two consignment boxes’ paperwork lacks the PROOF OF OWNERSHIP CERTIFICATE AND LEGAL DELIVERY PERMIT CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE forms,” which verifies that the shipment is legal, it says.
Under those circumstances, the email requires you to reply within 72 hours of receiving it — or find IRS agents at your door.
“Failure to comply may lead to your arrest, interrogation, or being prosecuted in a court of law for tax evasion and/or money laundering,” the Abbate imposter says.
“You are also instructed to desist from further contact with any bank(s) or person(s) in the United States, the United Kingdom, or any part of the world regarding…
