This is a version of the Nigerian 419 scam i.e. it promises great wealth but ends up with the victim having to pay for unexpected small costs that may add up to quite a figure until  they realise it’s just a scam and stop paying.

The message arrives from someone who sounds like an important official, perhaps from a government embassy or from an airline or airport or docks manager.

One common version is from Castillo Hector, Head of Luggage storage facilities at San Antonio International Airport.

He discovered an abandoned shipment and when scanned it showed a very large sum of money in US dollars. The consignment was wrongly labelled and is now abandoned.

He is even going to pay the $3,700 non-inspection charge to have the trunk of money released and sent to you.

He just needs you contact details, full address etc. and will proceed.

You have to agree to pay him 30% of the proceeds and that’s a done deal.

Of course, there is no trunk full of money, just a standard con.

Once you send him your details, the story will change and unexpected charges will occur, But as you’re going to get a trunk full of cash, paying a little up front is no problem.

Then it happens again and again and again until you realise it’s a con and stop.

By then you may be considerably out of pocket.

These people make a lot of money from these scams as people let their greed get the better of their common sense.

Do not fall victim to scammers. Offers of free money are always fraud.

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