Your Fund is in our Airport already

A reader sent me this little gem.  They received an email claiming to come from an inspector an Atlanta Airport and claiming that there was money in a consignment box ready for delivery to the receiver.  Clearly this is a scam, so my reader decided to have a bit of fun and sent “Dr O’Brien” a false name, address and contact details.

“Dr O’Brien” emailed back claiming he had paid the $3700 but (surprise!!) he was short of money and asked my reader to send hin $950.  He also attached a scan of what he claimed was his driving licence.

Google image search is a wonderful thing.  The photo on the license has been stolen from the profile of the Chancellor of a Children’s Hospital.  In deference to the real person in the photograph, I won’t reproduce it here.  Just remember, scammers can easily steal photos from the internet to make up fake documents.

Below are the original email my reader received, plus the email where the scammer starts asking for money.

Hello,

I am Dr. Martins O’Brien the Assistant Director Inspection Unit/United Nations Inspection Agent in Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport Georgia USA. During my recent withheld package routine check at the Airport Storage Vault, I discovered an abandoned shipment from a Diplomat from London 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 $3,700USD.

On my assumption, the box will contain about $2.5 Million to $3 Million and the consignment is still left in our Storage House here at the Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport Georgia 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 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 current PHONE NUMBER and FULL HOUSE ADDRESS, 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 which is (martinsbrien@gmail.com) for quick processing and response.

Once I confirm you as the actual recipient of the trunk box, I can get everything concluded within 3-6 hours 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 $3,700 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. You can call me on my telephone number +1-970-463-7578

Mr. Martins O’Brien
Assistance Inspection Director
Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport
574 Airport South Pkwy
Atlanta, GA 30349-8642
Telephone Number: +1-970-463-7578
Email: martinsbrien@gmail.com

——————–

Hello

Thank you for your mail. Attached is a copy of my driver’s license, the consignment I am inspecting and also the receipt I used in clearing it I need your response as soon as possible and feel free to call me I have been able to secure the release of the consignment after a heated negotiation with the airport vault authorities. I have also paid for the Non Inspection fees of $3,700 which was the main reason the Diplomat abandoned the Consignment because he was unable to pay the fee but after making payment I have been required by the custom airport authority to settle the accumulated demurrage fee of $1,980.00 Otherwise, the flight company would not board me. I am left with only $1,030 after paying for the Non-Inspection fee. This process requires me to make the payment to their paying office here before they will issue the final receipt paper. This receipts serves as an evidential prove, thereby satisfying luggage as genuine and legitimate having passed Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport Georgia satisfactory examination.

It have become imperative for you to support at this point, so that, I can complete the money. What is left now is $950. Due to the exigent situation, we need to round this up fast. Do try and send the $950 to the receiving officer, whom information is below, I will be going to pay $1,030 immediately to complete the needed $1,980. Remember that this cost is for me to pay for the accumulated demurrage fee and proceed immediately with the box to meet you within the next few hours. It is also unanticipated cost which I did not bargain for hence your understanding and assistance is highly needed. It will also prove to these authorities that this consignment belongs to you, as part payment was received from you to them, it will clearly indicate that you instructed me to assist you in clearing your consignment out of the airport, as your inability to travel down. I want you to know that I will be taking the next available flight to your City, and I will like you to have your phone close to you, because I will need your directions, as soon as I arrive your city, I don’t want to be stranded when I arrive your city, I hope you are clear with this?

You are to send the money through Western Union or Money Gram to me using my personal assistant name Debra Castillo:

Name of receiver:Debra Castillo
Address: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Amount:$950

This is the only role you are to play in this delivery process. I shall leave Atlanta to meet you once the payment of $950 is received from you and pay for the demurrage. I hope you recognize my effort so far in this process, in ensuring a safe delivery and to guide against any unforeseen circumstance. I will be wearing a white jacket with a Hartsfield white face cap and I have attached here my passport for facial recognition at the airport or when I arrive at your city. FOR MORE CLARIFICATION PLEASE VIEW THE ATTACHED FILES, I HAVE ATTACHED MY DRIVER’S LICENSE FOR IDENTIFICATION RECOGNITION, WHEN I ARRIVE YOUR CITY, AND THE PICTURE OF THE CONSIGNMENT, WHICH I TOOK THIS MORNING, AND RECEIPT OF PAYMENT, YOU WILL FIND 3 ATTACHMENTS FILE WITHIN.

Do you intend to meet me at airport or do I rent a cab to your address or hotel? Let me know this quickly, importantly I have also attached the receipt of payment for the non-inspection fee. I will send you a copy of my flight schedule as soon as I get the payment information to complete the release of the consignment. Am so happy that we made progress, expecting to see you soon (Achievement seems to be connected with action. Successful men and women keep moving. Delays are always behind them; this is why they always achieve victory).

I am waiting for the payment information from you.

Regards,
Dr. Martins O’Brien