Scam Demands Money, Threatens To Track Victims Down As Terrorists

PALOS TOWNSHIP, IL — An alarming new scam that threatens to label recipients as terrorists has been making the rounds around the web and real-world mail boxes. Victims receive letters from the “Department of Homeland Security-ICE” instructing them to send money to pick up “consignment boxes” or face arrest.

“We write to inform and update you that due to COVID-19 the United Nations UN has ordered us the Homeland to release your 2 consignment boxes that has been in our custody from International Monetary Fund (IMF) your rightful inheritance. The arrangement was made during the last UN conference in New York.”

The poorly written letter, signed by “Officer Robin Clark” of the “National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)” instructs recipients to send “only $580” and provide their contact information, so they can pick up their “Release Order Certificate” to claim their boxes.

“This is to remind you that if you fail to reply to this email within 48 hours we assume that you are a terrorist & we shall track you down.”

Palos Heights and Palos Park police have confirmed the email is a fake and urge recipients to delete it, and, if received in the mailbox, to toss it into the garbage.

“[An] ICE email address typically ends in a ‘dhs.gov’ format,” said Officer Joel Evans of the Palos Heights Police Department.

The domain name on the email address received by a reader ends in “@homeland-ice.us.” Evans suggested that anyone who receives the threatening email and/or letter take additional steps by reporting the letter to U.S. Immigration and Customers Enforcement.

Chief Joe Miller, of the Palos Park Police department said that a complaint had been filed in October 2019 with the Federal Trade Commission. The number has also been associated with tax scams.

Similar threatening letters claiming recipients have been caught red-handed for money laundering and terrorist sympathies with ransom demands to follow have also been reported, according to consumer technology expert Kim Komando.

Patch called the phone number on the email originating from an Orange County, CA area code. It was answered by a real guy who identified himself as “Officer Robin Clark.” He told us to respond to the email address in the letter for “verification.”

A few hours later, Officer Clark called Patch back and asked when we planned to send the money. We told Officer Clark that we were from a news organization and that police had been notified.

"This conversation is being recorded," Officer Clark said.

"Go ahead," we told him before hanging up.