Warning: Freight Forwarding Email Scam Steals Your Money

Beware of Freight Forwarding Email Messages

If you’ve received an email promising international logistics services, like the one below from someone claiming to be Ken from China (logistics78ken@163.com), be wary—it’s a scam designed to steal your money and extort your personal information.

Dear [Recipient’s Name],

This is Ken from China, nice to meet you. I can provide international logistics services from China to USA, Europe, and worldwide. Our headquarters is located in Shenzhen, with branches in Guangzhou, Shanghai, Changsha, and more.

OUR SERVICES:

(1) Freight Forwarding for All Kinds of Transportation: Sea freight, Air freight, Railway, and Express services.

(2) Project Shipping & Consulting: Our team can advise on the best means of transportation, schedule, carrier, etc.

(3) Warehousing: Free warehousing for 30 days, with reasonable charges thereafter.

(4) Consolidation: Collecting cargos from different suppliers and shipping them together for lower costs.

(5) Additional Services: Including cargo inspection, printing logos, drop shipping, etc.

(6) Package and Repackage: Offering various packaging options.

(7) Documentation: Providing necessary documents such as invoices, packing lists, CO, etc.

About our operation:

We book shipping space when your goods are ready.
Goods are tracked from the factory to the airport warehouse.
You pay us.
Customs declaration is completed.
Goods are shipped.
We provide you with the B/L.
You receive the goods at the destination airport.
If you need shipping services from China, let me know the details, and Ken will offer you the best services and rates.

For more details, contact me:
Mobile (WhatsApp/Wechat): 0086 15801639260

When receiving emails like this, it’s crucial to exercise caution. Take the time to thoroughly inspect them for warning signs and on high alert.

Warning Signs of a Scam:

These are warning signs that can help you tell if an email message is a scam or not:

• Suspicious Contact: Be cautious of unsolicited emails from unknown email addresses offering services you didn’t inquire about.
• Generous Offers: Offers of free warehousing or excessively low rates may be too good to be true.
• Pressure to Act Quickly: Scammers create a sense of urgency to push victims into making hasty decisions.
• Poor Grammar or Spelling: Emails with grammatical errors or spelling mistakes are not professional and may indicate a scam.

Understanding the Freight Forwarding Scam:

The objective of fake freight forwarding email scams is to deceive victims into believing they’re dealing with a legitimate company offering legitimate logistics services in order to obtain an advanced payment or phish personal information. In reality, victims who fall for the scam often end up losing the money they paid and risk having their identity stolen.

What to Do If You Were Scammed:

Take immediate action if you believe you’ve been scammed:

1. Report the Scam: Contact local authorities and consumer protection agencies to report the incident.
2. Notify Your Bank: Inform your bank or financial institution to prevent unauthorized transactions.
3. Monitor Your Accounts: Regularly check your financial accounts for any suspicious activity.
4. Protect Your Identity: Place a fraud alert on your credit report and monitor for unusual activity.
5. Scan Your Computer: Use Antivirus software like Malwarebytes to scan for and remove malware, trojans, and viruses.
6. Warn Others: Share your experience to raise awareness and prevent others from falling victim.

By staying on high alert and being informed of the cyber dangers in today’s world, you can protect yourself from falling victim to future email scams.