The "John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport Abandoned Shipment" Scam

The John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport Abandoned Shipment Scam

The fake "John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport Abandoned Shipment" email below is a scam. Therefore, recipients are asked not to follow the instructions in it. The fake email is being sent by online scammers who are attempting to their potential victims into sending them money, which they claim is for some so-called non-inspection fee, for a shipment of money they found.

Remember, once you are unexpectedly asked to send money in order to receive money or a lottery prize, it is a scam.

The "John F. Kennedy(JFK) Airport Abandoned Shipment" Scam

From: John Baker <bakerjohn489@aol.com>

Sent: Monday, November 26, 2018 5:25 AM

Subject: 2 TRUNK BOXES DISCOVERED

Attn: Beneficiary,

I am Mr.John Baker from the Office of Inspection Unit/United Nations Agency in John F.Kennedy International Airport New York USA. During my recent routine check at the Airport Storage/vault on withheld packages, I discovered an abandoned shipment that belongs to you from a Diplomat from London and Africa, when scanned it revealed an undisclosed sum of money in two Metal Trunk Boxes weighing approximately 25kg each and some people are coming after this consignment to clam it in your name.

The consignment was abandoned because the Contents was not properly declared by the consignee as “MONEY” rather it was declared as personal effect to avoid interrogation and also the inability of the diplomat to pay for the INTERNATIONAL CONSIGNMENT MONEY MOVEMENT Charges Before bringing in the consignment into US and we refused to return back the consignment where it came from since, we have already received it here in USA.

On my assumption, each of the box contain not less than $5 Million to $5.5 Million and the consignment is still left in our Storage House here at the John F. Kennedy International Airport New York USA till date. The details of the consignment including your name, your email address and the official document from the United Nations office in Geneva are tagged on the Metal Trunk boxes in your favor.But to enable me confirm if you are the actual recipient of this consignment, I will advise you to provide your current Phone Number and Full Address to enable me cross check if it corresponds with the address on the official documents including the Name of the nearest Airport around your city.

Please note that this consignment is supposed to have been returned to the United States Treasury Department as unclaimed delivery due to the delay in concluding the clearance processes. Therefore you are advice to respond to this message and call me immediately as you read. Once I receive your above requested information I can get everything concluded within 5 to 6 hours upon your acceptance and proceed to your address for delivery.

Below is my direct telephone number, I am always out of office for inspection, so if I am unable to pick your call you should know that I have gone for inspection just email me and make sure you include your mobile number so that I can give you a call, but for now I am expecting your call today as you read this message.

Regards,

Mr.John Baker

Office of Inspection

JFK International Airport New York, USA.

EMAIL:bakerjohn489@aol.com

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February 13, 2020 at 6:46 AM by
The "John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport Abandoned Shipment" Scam
info

"Dear Friend,

I am Mr. James Dee, Head Officer-in-Charge of Administrative Service Inspection Unit United Nations, during our investigations I discovered an abandoned shipment from a diplomat transferred from JF Kennedy Airport to our facility here in Atlanta.

The shipments was scanned and it revealed an undisclosed sum of cash in 2 metal trunk boxes weighing approximately 110kg each, by my assessment each of the boxes contains about $4M or more.

The shipments was abandoned because the content was not properly declared by the consignee as cash but as personal effect to avoid confiscation by the authorities.

The diplomat inability to pay for a non inspection fees yellow tags or secure a valid non inspection document(s),etc are the reason the shipments was abandoned due to a false declaration.

I am ready to assist you receive this trunk boxes or visit our office in person to claim this boxes provided if you will give me something out of it as a (financial gratification) your full names Address Telephone is needed to start the process for the release and delivery of the boxes if your interested on this.

Best Regards,

Mr. James Dee

Head Officer-in-Charge

Administrative Service Inspection Unit

E-mail: james.dee2029@gmail.com"

Here is another scam.

Delete

December 6, 2019 at 5:55 PM by
The "John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport Abandoned Shipment" Scam
info

"From: Mr Joseph Beers <accessb735@gmail.com>

Sent: 06 December 2019 14:33

Subject: Greeting from IRS USA

Internal Revenue Service United States

Department of the Treasury Accessibility

Skip to Top Navigation 2283 3rd Ave

New York, NY 10035, UnitedStates

Greeting from IRS USA

We the Internal Revenue Service, believed that you received the previous message we sent to you, prior to your dealings with the U.S Custom Authority at (JFK) John F. Kennedy International Airport New York as regards to your over-due contract payment consignment trunk box worth $10,500.000.00 (Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars only), which was endorsed in your favor and like we stated earlier, we have dully screened through this project as stipulated on our protocols of operation and have finally confirmed that your contract payment is 100% genuine and hitch free from all face and of which you have the lawful right to claim your fund without any further delay.

This is to bring to your notice that we have just been informed through secret source that the U.S Custom Authority at (JFK) John F.Kennedy International Airport New York are making arrangement to have your contract fund wired into the Bank account of Mrs. Jane Frederick, the lady that contacted them, earlier and presented some documentations evidencing your claim purported to have been signed personally by you for the release of your contract fund to her, since you have chose to ignore their messages and refuse to pay the required $375.00 for Custom Clearance Certificate C.C.C. charges as imposed, despite the advise we gave to you.

I want to personally assure you once again that you will have every course to smile and be happy upon conclusion of this project, as we will continue monitoring all your services with them at all level as well as your correspondence, until you have received your Metal Trunk Box accordingly, we are here to protect your interest and that is the reason why we are doing all we can to make sure all goes well. This is a huge amount of money which we don't wish for you to lose.

We understand that the imposed fee might be too much for you to pay so to further make things easier for you, we have discussed with the U.S Custom Authority at (JFK) John F. Kennedy International Airport New York pleaded on your behalf for them to give you the grace of sending $75 out of the charges which will be only $75.00 Us Dollar for now after which the Diplomatic Agent deliver your consignment trunk box to you then once you receive your fund, you can then pay the remaining balance of $300.00

All we want you to do right now is to go ahead and send the payment with the name listed below so we can forward it to South Africa Customs authority to help us obtain the Custom Clearance Certificate C.C.C. and=C2=A0 the diplomat will make the delivery to your home address tomorrow morning.

Description of Your Consignment box to be delivered:

Type:...CONSIGNMENT TRUNK BOX

Size:.../ 2:1 CM.

Weight:...5.6KG.

Color:...BLACK BOX

Registration NO: #98952457

Serial #5267843156

Pin number...***

Contact us right away and let me know when you will send half of the charges as we discussed with them to enable them route your fund to you with immediate effect. This is a life time opportunity and we will advise you to take advantage of it, before it will become too late for consideration.

Receiver's Data/ Here's the information to send the fee required Ria Money Transfer or Western Union Money Transfer or Money Gram .you can buy the iTunes card or Google Play Card or Wal-Mart Gift card at any Wal-Mart around you or Supermarket around you

Receiver's Name: : KAR ANGEL

COUNTRY: :BENIN

City: :;COTONOU BENIN

Text Question: : WHEN

Text Answer: : URGENT

Amount: : $75.00

Sender's Name: :

Sender's Address: :

REF: NUMBER #: :

Also be informed that we came to an agreement with the U.S Custom Authority at (JFK) John F. Kennedy International Airport New York that you will be sending the fee, latest before the end of tomorrow so please we will advise that you send the fee right away because if you fail to do that, then they will have no other choice than to release your fund to Mrs. Jane Frederick who is ready to work with them, and am sure it will be a very great loss to you as we will not be able to help you then, hence your fund will be lost forever.

This is an official notification and we advise you treat it with most urgency, in your best interest. Yours Sincerely, IRS

Commissioner,

Mr Joseph Beers

Email: mr.josephbeers@aol.com"

Here is another scam.

Delete

October 25, 2019 at 5:35 PM by
The "John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport Abandoned Shipment" Scam
info

Here is another scam:

- Forwarded message -

From: John McClarke <tuckerximena@yahoo.com>

Sent: Friday, 25 October 2019, 07:15:30 pm AEDT

Subject: Read Carefully, Your Urgent Response Is Needed

Greetings,

I am John McClarke, the Assistant Director Inspection Unit/United Nations Inspection Agent in John F. Kennedy International Airport Queens New York. During my recent withheld package routine check at the Airport Storage Vault, I discovered an abandoned shipment from a Diplomat and when scanned, it revealed an undisclosed sum of money in a Metal Trunk Box weighing approximately 25kg. The consignment was abandoned because the Contents of the consignment was not properly declared by the consignee as "MONEY" rather it was declared as personal effect to avoid interrogation and also the inability of the diplomat to pay for the United States Non Inspection Charges which is about $3,800 USD. On my assumption,the box will contain more than $4 Million to $5 Million US dollars and the consignment box is still left in our Storage House here at John F. Kennedy International Airport Queens New York till date.

The details of the consignment including your name, your email address and the official document from the United Nations office are tagged on the Metal Trunk box. However, to enable me confirm if you are the actual recipient of this consignment as the assistant director of the Inspection Unit, I want you to urgently send me

Your Full Name...

Full Address...

Phone Number ...

to enable me cross check if it corresponds with the address on the official documents including the name of nearest Airport around your city. Please note that this consignment is supposed to have been returned to the United States Treasury Department as unclaimed delivery due to the delays in concluding the clearance processes so as a result of this, I will not be able to receive your details on my official email account. So in order words to enable me cross check your details, I will advise you send the required details to my private email address (mcclarkejohn@gmail.com) for quick processing and response. Once I confirm you as the actual recipient/rightful owner of the trunk box, I can get everything concluded within 48hours upon your acceptance and proceed to your address for delivery.

Lastly, be informed that the reason I have taken it upon myself to contact you personally about this abandoned consignment is because I want us to transact this business and share the money in 70% to 30% ratio since the consignment has not yet been returned to the United States Treasury Department after being abandoned by the diplomat. So immediately the confirmation is made, I will pay for the United States Non Inspection Fee and arrange for the boxes to be delivered to your doorstep Or I can bring it by myself to avoid any more trouble but the money will be shared 70% for you and 30% for me and you have to assure me of my 30% share. If i didn't reply your email immediately, just know that I am on inspection but you have to make sure you include your mobile number so that I can give you a call. I wait to hear from you urgently if you are still alive.

John McClarke

Assistance Inspection Director

John F. Kennedy International Airport

Queens New York, 11430

United States

mcclarkejohn@gmail.com

Delete

July 5, 2019 at 1:39 PM by
The "John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport Abandoned Shipment" Scam
info

"From: "Charles J. Colocino Jr." <epine888@gmail.com>

Date: July 4, 2019 at 2:42:34 PM MST

To: "charles@jfk.com" <charles@jfk.com>

Subject: YOUR CONSIGNMENT BOX HAS BEEN FOUND

Reply-To: "Charles J. Colocino Jr." <charlescolocinojr100@gmail.com>

Assistant Inspection Director

John F. Kennedy International Airport

Queens New York, 11430

United states

Hello Good Friend,

I have very vital information to give you, but first I must have your trust before I review it to you because it may cause me my job, so I need somebody that I can trust for me to be able to review the secret to you I am Mr. Charles J. Colocino Jr, head of luggage storage facilities here at the John F. Kennedy International Airport Queens New York during New York during my search for undelivered parcels I discovered an abandoned shipment from a Diplomat from Benin Republic and when scanned The consignment was abandoned because the contents of the consignment was not properly declared by the consignee as “MONEY” rather it was declared as personal effect to avoid interdepending at the intimacy diplomat to pay for the United States Non Inspection Charges which is $ 3,800USD.Kennedy International Airport Queens New York till date. The details of the consignment including your name, your email address and your official documents from the United Nations office in Geneva are tagged on the Trunk box.

I will advise you provide your full information as below: How can I confirm if you are the actual recipient of this consignment as the assistant director.

FULL NAME:

ADDRESS:

PHONE NUMBER:

OCCUPATION:

COUNTRY:

NEAREST AIRPORT:

Please note that this consignment is taken to have been returned to the United States of America. The Department of Treasury Department of the United States of America is as follows. So in order words to enable me cross check your details, I will advise you send the required details to my private email Once I confirm you as the actual recipient of the trunk box, I can get everything concealed within 48 hours upon your acceptance and proceeded to your address for delivery.

Lastly, be informed that the reason I have been taken upon myself to contact you personally about this abandoning consignment is because I want us to transact this business and share the money 70% for you and 30% for me since the consignment has not yet been Return to the United States Treasury Department after being abandoned by the diplomat so immediate the confirmation is made, I will go ahead and pay for the United States of America Non inspection fee of $ 3,800 dollars and arrange for the box to be delivered to your doorstep Or I can bring it by myself to avoid any more trouble but you have to a*s me me of my 30% share.

I wait to hear from you urgently if you are still alive and I will appreciate if we can keep this deal confidential.

Thank you.

Mr. Charles J. Colocino Jr.

Assistant Inspection Director

John F. Kennedy International Airport

Queens New York, 11430

United states"

Here is another scam.

Delete

June 26, 2019 at 6:30 AM by
The "John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport Abandoned Shipment" Scam
info

jerrycook0153@gmail.com is being used by scammers.

Delete

June 18, 2019 at 2:39 PM by
The "John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport Abandoned Shipment" Scam
info

"From: Henry Martin <aki-4999@beige.plala.or.jp>

Date: June 17, 2019 at 10:26:24 PM MST

Subject: Your Abandoned Consignment..

Reply-To: henrypmartin@protonmail.com

Briefly, I am Mr. Henry Martin, UN storage Facilities officer at JFK International Airport.

I am contacting you on this emergency notice in reference to an abandoned consignment with Tag#AK00781 which includes your email and other details on the Trunks.

For your information, the Trunk box has been abandoned by the Diplomat who was on transit to your location for no other reason than his inability to pay the ATL clearance fee, It's been several weeks now he abandoned this trunk with the authority without any indication of when he's likely to return for this clearance and the official duration for us to keep such consignment in our custody has already exceeded, Hence I have taken it upon myself to contact you personally to notify you about this abandoned consignment bearing your email details, probably we can work together to ensure smooth delivery of the consignment to your destination without any hitch.

At the moment, The U.S. Custom's Border / Protection is conducting a general clearance/evacuation on all abandoned consignments in our custody, therefore your prompt action prevents this consignment among the list of goods to be confiscated by the US government as unclaimed goods.

Note, for security reason and safe delivery to you as the authentic beneficiary of this said consignment, I implore you to kindly reconfirm your legal full names, your home / postal address, your mobile telephone number, your present occupation, and the nearest airport close to you.

Be reminded that all communication must be held extremely confidential to ensure successful delivery to you.

You can call me or send an SMS to confirmation of this information to my below phone #.

Warmest Regards,

Mr.Henry Martins

Phone : (970)-444-2344"

Here is another scam.

Delete

June 12, 2019 at 8:06 AM by
The "John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport Abandoned Shipment" Scam
info

"To: DHL EXPRESS <p.wagner@dhlexpressxc.com>

Date: Mon, May 27, 2019 at 3:10 PM

Subject: Re: Your Application For Employment

Good Afternoon,

I appreciate the opportunity you have given me. I am happy to be part of the team and also that you are a birthday twin. I have submitted the new hire form and I will see you June 22nd. Thank you again, Have a wonderful day.

-Most grateful, Ana

On Sun, May 26, 2019 at 5:47 PM DHL EXPRESS <p.wagner@dhlexpressxc.com> wrote:

May 26, 2019

Dear

I wanted to personally thank you for your interest in DHL. We received your application and we think you would be a great addition to our airport ground crew team. We are currently expanding operations here at John F. Kennedy International Airport and think your desire to explore new opportunities and your solid work experience would equal success here with DHL. We would like to officially invite you to attend the New Hire Orientation on June 22nd. And coincidently, you and I have the same birthday. I was born on November 29th as well, just many years before you.

As you may already know, DHL Express is a division of Deutsche Post AG. Together Deutsche Post DHL is the world's largest logistics company operating around the world, particularly in sea and air mail. When combined with our subsidiaries, like DHL Global Forwarding and DHL Supply Chain we employee over 325,000 people in 220 countries and territories across Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe. We take the happiness and the welfare of this dedicated staff very seriously. Our management team is here to help you and our Human Resources Department is available for your assistance Monday - Friday during regular business hours. We have a complete paid training program that is designed to fast track your transition into our company while emphasizing safety and compliance with all FAA, TSA and other federal requirements. Starting pay, including while in training, is $23.80 per hour. After 90 days, you will qualify for health insurance and the other benefits offered by DHL. You will also undergo an “Initial Phase Evaluation” and qualify for an increase in pay which will be explained in more detail during your Orientation..."

Received this scam.

Delete

June 9, 2019 at 4:45 PM by
The "John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport Abandoned Shipment" Scam
info

Another scam:

"From: "Mr. Charles J. Colocino Jr" <ray246416@gmail.com>

Date: June 9, 2019 at 12:15:17 AM MST

To: "ray246416@gmail.com" <ray246416@gmail.com>

Subject: Your Abandoned Package At Airport

Reply-To: "Mr. Charles J. Colocino Jr" <charlescolocinojr578@gmail.com>

Assistant Inspection Director

John F. Kennedy International Airport

Queens New York, 11430

United States

Attention

I have very vital information to give to you, but first I must have your trust before I review it to you because it may cause me my job, so I need somebody that I can trust for me to be able to review the secret to you. I am Mr. Charles J. Colocino Jr, head of luggage/baggage storage facilities here at the John F.Kennedy International Airport Queens New York during my search for undelivered parcels I discovered an abandoned shipment from a Diplomat from Kenya and when scanned it revealed an undisclosed sum of money in a metal trunk box. The consignment was abandoned because the Contents of the consignment was not properly declared by the consignee as “MONEY” rather it was declared as personal effect to avoid interrogation and also the inability of the diplomat to pay for the United States Non Inspection Charges which is $3,800 USD. On my assumption the consignment is still left in our Storage House here at the John F. Kennedy International Airport Queens New York till date. The details of the consignment including your name, your email address and the official documents from the United Nations office in Geneva are tagged on the Trunk box.

However, to enable me confirm if you are the actual recipient of this consignment as the assistant director of the Inspection Unit, I will advise you provide your full information as below:

FULL NAME:

ADDRESS:

PHONE NUMBER:

OCCUPATION:

COUNTRY:

NEAREST AIRPORT:

To enable me cross check if it corresponds with the address on the official documents including the name of nearest Airport around your city. Please note that this consignment is supposed to have been returned to the United States Treasury Department as unclaimed delivery due to the delays in concluding the clearance processes so as a result of this, I will not be able to receive your details on my official email account. So in order words to enable me cross check your details, I will advise you send the required details to my private email address for quick processing and response. Once I confirm you as the actual recipient of the trunk box, I can get everything concluded within 48hours upon your acceptance and proceed to your address for delivery.

Lastly, be informed that the reason I have taken it upon myself to contact you personally about this abandoned consignment is because I want us to transact this business and share the money 70% for you and 30% for me since the consignment has not yet been returned to the United States Treasury Department after being abandoned by the diplomat so immediately the confirmation is made, I will go ahead and pay for the United States Non Inspection Fee of $3,800 dollars and arrange for the box to be delivered to your doorstep Or I can bring it by myself to avoid any more trouble but you have to assure me of my 30% share.

I wait to hear from you urgently if you are still alive and I will appreciate if we can keep this deal confidential.

Thank you.

Mr. Charles J. Colocino Jr.

Assistant Inspection Director

John F. Kennedy International Airport

Queens New York, 11430

United States"

Delete

May 25, 2019 at 6:56 PM by
The "John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport Abandoned Shipment" Scam
info

Here is another scam:

"From: David Lance Bowdich <bowdichd@fbi.com>

Date: May 24, 2019 at 1:18:44 PM EDT

To: Undisclosed recipients:;

Subject: Re: FROM THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI).

Reply-To: <bowdichd@gmail.com>

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Field Intelligence Groups J. Edgar Hoover Building

935 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20535, USA

Attention: Beneficiary,

We sincerely apologize for sending you this sensitive information via e-mail instead of certified mail, post-mail, phone or face to face conversation. It's due to the urgency and importance of the security information of our citizens. I am David Lance Bowdich the Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Field Intelligence Groups (FIGs). We intercepted two consignment boxes at JFK Airport, New York. The boxes were scanned and they contained large sums of money ($4.1 million), also some backup documents that bear your name as the Beneficiary / Receiver. An investigation was carried out on the diplomat that accompanied the boxes into the United States and he stated that he was to deliver the funds to your residence as an overdue payment owed to you by a foreign country.

After cross-checking all legal documents in the boxes, we found out that your consignment lacks an important document and we can't release the boxes to the diplomat until the document is found, we have no other option than to confiscate your consignment.

According to Internal Revenue Code (IRC) in Title 26 also contain reporting requirements on a Form 8300, Report of Cash Payment Over $10,000 Received in a Trade or Business, money laundering activity may violate 18 USC §1956, 18 USC 1957, 18 USC 1960, and provision of Title 31, and 26 USC 6050I of the United States Code (USC), this section will discuss only those money laundering and currency violations under the jurisdiction of IRS, your consignment lacks proof of ownership certificate from the joint team of IRS and IRC, you're to reply back immediately for direction on how to procure the fund ownership certificate avoid being charge for evading the law which is punishable offense here in the United States.

You're to reply within 72hours or you will be prosecuted in a court of law for money laundering, you have been instructed to desist from further contact with any bank(s) or person(s) in any part of the world regarding your payment because your consignment has been confiscated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation here in the United States.

Yours In Service,

David Lance Bowdich

Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation"

Delete

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Pay the safest way

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Guard your personal information

In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Always call the number found on a website’s contact information to make sure the number legitimately belongs to the entity you are dealing with.

Be careful of the information you share

Never give out your codes, passwords or personal information, unless you are sure of who you're dealing with

Know who you’re dealing with

Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Don’t provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something and know who you are sending payment to. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.

Check your accounts

Regularly check your account transactions and report any suspicious or unauthorised transactions.

Don’t believe promises of easy money

If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.

Do not open email from people you don’t know

If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.

Think before you click

If an email or text message looks suspicious, don’t open any attachments or click on the links.

Verify urgent requests or unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls before you respond

If you receive a message or a phone call asking for immediate action and don't know the sender, it could be a phishing message.

Be careful with links and new website addresses

Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.

Secure your personal information

Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.

Stay informed on the latest cyber threats

Keep yourself up to date on current scams by visiting this website daily.

Use Strong Passwords

Strong passwords are critical to online security.

Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs

Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.

Update the operating systems on your electronic devices

Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.

What if You Got Scammed?

Stop Contact With The Scammer

Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.

Secure Your Finances

  • Report potentially compromised bank account, credit or debit card information to your financial institution(s) immediately. They may be able to cancel or reverse fraudulent transactions.
  • Notify the three major credit bureaus. They can add a fraud alert to warn potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft. You may also want to consider placing a free security freeze on your credit report. Doing so prevents lenders and others from accessing your credit report entirely, which will prevent them from extending credit:

Check Your Computer

If your computer was accessed or otherwise affected by a scam, check to make sure that your anti-virus is up-to-date and running and that your system is free of malware and keylogging software. You may also need to seek the help of a computer repair company. Consider utilizing the Better Business Bureau’s website to find a reputable company.

Change Your Account Passwords

Update your bank, credit card, social media, and email account passwords to try to limit further unauthorized access. Make sure to choose strong passwords when changing account passwords.

Report The Scam

Reporting helps protect others. While agencies can’t always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.

Report your issue to the following agencies based on the nature of the scam:

  • Local Law Enforcement: Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised.
  • Federal Trade Commission: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report various types of fraud, including counterfeit checks, lottery or sweepstakes scams, and more.
  • Identitytheft.gov: If someone is using your personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund, report it at www.identitytheft.gov. This federal government site will also help you create your Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan based on your situation. Questions can be directed to 877-ID THEFT.

How To Recognize a Phishing Scam

Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.

Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:

Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might

  • say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
  • claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
  • say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
  • include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
  • want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
  • say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
  • offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real

About Online Threat Alerts (OTA)

Online Threat Alerts or OTA is an anti-cybercrime community that started in 2012. OTA alerts the public to cyber crimes and other web threats.

By alerting the public, we have prevented a lot of online users from getting scammed or becoming victims of cybercrimes.

With the ever-increasing number of people going online, it important to have a community like OTA that continuously alerts or protects those same people from cyber-criminals, scammers and hackers, who are every day finding new ways of carrying out their malicious activities.

Online users can help by reporting suspicious or malicious messages or websites to OTA. And, if they want to determine if a message or website is a threat or scam, they can use OTA's search engine to search for the website or parts of the message for information.

Help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA).

The "John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport Abandoned Shipment" Scam