Diplomatic trunk and inheritance customs scam: the unclaimed gold trap
Take a breath. This happens to a lot of people, it isn't your fault, and there are concrete steps that help.
Take a breath: this happens to a lot of people, it isn't your fault, and there are steps that help.
“The diplomatic courier Mr. James has landed at Heathrow Airport with your consignment box of $4.5 million. He needs $2,800 for the Yellow Tag Non-Inspection Customs Clearance Stamp...”
What to do now
Never wire funds for baggage delivery
Do not pay any fee to clear an unfamiliar package or diplomatic courier.
Verify the courier agency domain
Check WHOIS records of the shipping site; fake courier sites are usually registered days before the scam.
Emergency reporting and removal resources
Free, confidential crisis counselor, 24/7
Blocks sharing on participating platforms. Images stay on your device.
Free NCMEC service to remove images of minors.
Official federal cybercrime complaint center.
Write a DMCA notice for web hosts that won't remove the content.
Frequently asked questions
Can private citizens use diplomatic pouches?
No. Under the Vienna Convention, diplomatic mail is strictly restricted to official state envoys and government embassies. Any claim of a private citizen shipping cash via diplomatic pouch is 100% fraudulent.