Nigerian 419 Scam
This scam is one of the oldest and named 419 after the article of the Nigerian Criminal Code dealing with fraud. You receive an email pretending to be a lawyer/official/minister asking for your help to move a large amount of “frozen” money out of a foreign country and offering you a percentage.
They send official-looking documents and may even arrange meetings to convince you it is a real opportunity. Once you have agreed, they will say something has gone wrong. They may say things like “an official demands an up-front bribe or a fee before the money can be transferred”. When you pay the money to unlock the transfer, they will simply give one excuse after another, and then another “problem” comes up where they need some more money etc.
Arranging a transfer
This scam is often based on the premise that some major event or misfortune, such as the overthrow of a government, has resulted in large sums of money being held in a country by a person or persons who are seeking help in transferring the money to another country. A proportion of the money is offered for help in arranging the transfer.
Or, you will receive a letter, fax or email from someone who says they need help in transferring money overseas, usually US$20-30 million. Typically, the writer claims to be a senior government official, an accountant with a state owned corporation, or perhaps a relative of a deposed or dead politician. It will probably be marked ‘Strictly Confidential’ or ‘Urgent’, and offer the opportunity to share in a multi-million pound bonanza.
The writer will tell you he needs to transfer his cash to a bank in your country, and if you let him use your bank account you can keep a big slice for yourself, usually 25 or 30 per cent.
If you reply and give your banking and personal details, you will be sent fake bank statements and similar documents, all intended to prove that the money exists and is heading your way.
It doesn’t, and it isn’t.
This scam has been in operation for some considerable time, suggesting that it continues to be successful for its operators. Although this type of scam frequently originates from parts of Africa, it can have other sources. There is evidence that a similar scam has operated from the USA.
This sort of scam usually arrives by email. If the email is impersonating a known company, you can forward it to the legitimate company to let them know that they are being impersonated. Some email providers also have a phishing or spam reporting function.
If you think you have been a victim of this scam call Consumer Direct for advice on 08456 040506.
There is about this Nigerian scam in our forum.
Fraud Recovery Scams
If you were already a victim of Nigerian fraud, you may be a target for a fraud recovery scam. The scammer contacts the victim claiming that they can recover their lost money, for a price. Another approach is to say the Nigerian government has a fund to compensate victims of 419 scams, and to get their compensation you just need to fill in a form (which usually includes personal information) and send a processing and handling fee. These scams will sometimes impersonate the Nigeria fraud squad, the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) to gain credibility and your trust.
Source: E-victims.org & Consumer Direct
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Is this the kind of thing you’re talking about?
Dear Sir / Madam Please read.
It is my sincere pleasure at this moment to exhibit my total trust bestowed on you in accordance to my Proposed partnership relationship with you of which I am fully convinced that you will really welcome my partnership with you in this transaction Being very sceptical about dealing with Africans in such transaction, Ranging from the height of fraudulent activities encompassing the African communities. Now it is my Godly nursed intention to prove myself to you that I am very much different from others which you must have come across.
I hereby attested my accepted conclusion to take upon my gentle self and to join hands together to cover any unforeseen expenses that may be involved here till the Final Transfer of the Funds to our Correspondent Bank before its Final remittance into your Nominated Bank Account.
This is to convince you of my spirited acceptance to have you as a confidant in a business of this magnitude knowing that you will not turn me down come-what-may, regarding this Claim/Transfer to boost my planned establishment of a funding Company out of Africa . In other Words, I went into a more concrete arrangement in couriering to your doorstep, a total of US$10.5Million Dollars through INTER-BANK TRANSFER. This amount of Money belongs to our Deceased Customer as there were no claims over this Dormant Balance Account for a period of many Years.
Therefore, I am in need of a Reliable Partner that would come forward to put claims over the Funds for its Transfer into his/her Foreign Bank Account. This is because I am the Director of Foreign Remittance Department of my Bank for secures Transfer of these Funds without any Hindrances.
All I am expecting from you, as a matter of greatest urgency and importance is your sincerity and Honesty as I have some of the Needed Legal Documents to prove that this Business is Lawful for its onward Remittance. I urgently want you to send all the demanded Personal Information’s below to me as soon as you receive this PROPOSAL in order to show your readiness and Willingness in this Proposed Business.
BELOW ARE THE NEEDED PERSONAL INFORMATIONS
1) Your Full Name…………………….. …
ALTERNATIVE E-MAIL ADDRESS / ……………………
2) Your Age……………………… …………
3) Your Mobile and Home Phone Number…………..
4) Your Fax Number…………………..
5) Your Country of Nationality…………………………. .
6) Your Occupation……………….. ……..
7) Sex……………………… …………………
Finally, you have to keep this Proposal confidential and secret from your Relations, Partners and Colleagues for our success in this Transaction as the basis of this Business is Secrecy. I promise you that I would protect your Personal Interest as this Business is 100% risk-free.Therefore, I want you to express your interest to engage in this Business with me because your share is 40% of the Funds in Question so that I can send to you the TEXT OF APPLICATION which you have to Fill and send to the E-mail Address of the Bank.
I look forward for your immediate Positive response.
My regards to you and the family,
Haji Azizs Yusuf
Tele 0022678430122