The FBI has recently developed information indicating cyber criminals are attempting to once again send fraudulent e-mails to unsuspecting recipients stating that someone has filed a complaint against them or their company with the Department of Justice or another organization such as the Internal Revenue Service, Social Security Administration, or the Better Business Bureau.
Information obtained during the FBI investigation has been provided to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS has taken steps to alert their public and private sector partners with the release of a Critical Infrastructure Information Notice (CIIN).
The e-mails are intended to appear as legitimate messages from the above departments, and they address the recipients by name, and other personal information may be contained within the e-mail. Consistent with previous efforts, the scam will likely be an effort to secure Personally Identifiable Information. The nature of these types of scams is to create a sense of urgency for the recipient to provide a response through clicking on a hyperlink, opening an attachment, or initiating a telephone call.
It is believed this e-mail refers to a complaint that is in the form of an attachment, which actually contains virus software designed to steal passwords from the recipient. The virus is wrapped in a screensaver file wherein most anti-virus programs are unable to detect its malicious intent. Once downloaded, the virus is designed to monitor username and password logins, and record the activity, as well as other password-type information, entered on the compromised machine.
Be wary of any e-mail received from an unknown sender. Do not open any unsolicited e-mail and do not click on any links provided.
Information obtained during the FBI investigation has been provided to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS has taken steps to alert their public and private sector partners with the release of a Critical Infrastructure Information Notice (CIIN).
The e-mails are intended to appear as legitimate messages from the above departments, and they address the recipients by name, and other personal information may be contained within the e-mail. Consistent with previous efforts, the scam will likely be an effort to secure Personally Identifiable Information. The nature of these types of scams is to create a sense of urgency for the recipient to provide a response through clicking on a hyperlink, opening an attachment, or initiating a telephone call.
It is believed this e-mail refers to a complaint that is in the form of an attachment, which actually contains virus software designed to steal passwords from the recipient. The virus is wrapped in a screensaver file wherein most anti-virus programs are unable to detect its malicious intent. Once downloaded, the virus is designed to monitor username and password logins, and record the activity, as well as other password-type information, entered on the compromised machine.
Be wary of any e-mail received from an unknown sender. Do not open any unsolicited e-mail and do not click on any links provided.
Posted on Sunday, June 29, 2008
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This scam requests the victim to allow them to use their bank account so a large sum of money may be deposited into. Initial contact with the victim is made by a mass produced email.
The money offered may be from a secret bank account, unexpected inheritance, overpaid Government contract or a "forgotten sum of money" left in a Nigerian bank.
In each instance, before the money is placed into the victims' bank account, a series of fees and charges are required to be paid before the money can be released. These charges include:
Despite the victim making numerous payments to individuals in different countries, there are always delays which prevent the money being sent and require a further payment to be made.
A key ingredient of this scam is the victim is required to keep the money transfer secret.
This scam has been in existence in excess of 50 years and no person has ever received the money promised despite hundreds of thousands of individuals' worldwide taking up the Nigerians offer. View examples of documents used by the fraudsters to convince victims they are genuine.
Victims have historically been very reluctant to report their being defrauded in this manner to the Police as the ingredients of their actions constitute the offence of money laundering.
The money offered may be from a secret bank account, unexpected inheritance, overpaid Government contract or a "forgotten sum of money" left in a Nigerian bank.
In each instance, before the money is placed into the victims' bank account, a series of fees and charges are required to be paid before the money can be released. These charges include:
- Taxes
- Levies
- Legal fees
- Payments to corrupt officials
- Money transfer charges
- Payment to insure the funds transfer.
- Payment for an "anti-terrorist certificate" to verify the victim is not a terrorist.
Despite the victim making numerous payments to individuals in different countries, there are always delays which prevent the money being sent and require a further payment to be made.
A key ingredient of this scam is the victim is required to keep the money transfer secret.
This scam has been in existence in excess of 50 years and no person has ever received the money promised despite hundreds of thousands of individuals' worldwide taking up the Nigerians offer. View examples of documents used by the fraudsters to convince victims they are genuine.
Victims have historically been very reluctant to report their being defrauded in this manner to the Police as the ingredients of their actions constitute the offence of money laundering.
Posted on Thursday, June 26, 2008
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Scams originating from Nigeria and other West African countries have been deceiving Queenslanders out of hundreds of thousands of dollars per month for many years. Numerous examples have been recorded of Queenslanders being deceived by African fraudsters with many victims now financially destitute.
Financial scams promise the victim a large return for a small investment. Internet romance scams are very aggressive in nature and target the emotional vulnerabilities of the victim.
These are some of the Nigerians scams that Queenslanders have recently become victim to:
Financial scams promise the victim a large return for a small investment. Internet romance scams are very aggressive in nature and target the emotional vulnerabilities of the victim.
These are some of the Nigerians scams that Queenslanders have recently become victim to:
- Request to use a bank account to deposit a large sum of money
- Business opportunity
- Online Relationship
- Fraudulent cheque or credit card scam
- Charity scam
Posted on Wednesday, June 25, 2008
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Also sometimes called an 'Advance Fee Fraud' (AFF) letter, and as a "419" after the section of the Nigerian penal law that deals with this type of fraud, the "Nigerian" scam isn't eligible for our Pie In The Sky Award. However, here's some information about these scams.
Have you been contacted by someone from Nigeria asking for your help in transferring money out of the country? If so, then you are one of thousands of people all over the world who have been targeted by what is sometimes called the "Nigerian letter scam" or "Nigerian advance fee fraud".
Although "Nigerian" is the name given to it, this scam is international. The letter or email you get may also pretend to come from another country, such as Sierra Leone, the Congo, the Ivory Coast, South Africa, Mauritius, Philippines or Azerbaijan. In fact, the scam operator may be in the US, or Australia, or anywhere.
Have you been contacted by someone from Nigeria asking for your help in transferring money out of the country? If so, then you are one of thousands of people all over the world who have been targeted by what is sometimes called the "Nigerian letter scam" or "Nigerian advance fee fraud".
Although "Nigerian" is the name given to it, this scam is international. The letter or email you get may also pretend to come from another country, such as Sierra Leone, the Congo, the Ivory Coast, South Africa, Mauritius, Philippines or Azerbaijan. In fact, the scam operator may be in the US, or Australia, or anywhere.
Posted on Tuesday, June 24, 2008
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- The letter will stress the urgency of the matter.
- The confidential nature of the transaction is stressed.
- Claims are made that the other parties are employed in, or have strong ties with the Nigerian Government or the Central Bank of Nigeria.
- There may be a need to travel to Nigeria or one of its neighboring countries.
- Many forged official-looking documents.
- Blank letterheads, invoices and banking details are requested.
- Additional fees are continuously requested in order to further the transaction.
- Most letters will indicate that the transaction is 100% risk-free.
Posted on Monday, June 23, 2008
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The so-called Nigerian Letter Scam is intrinsically an advance fee fraud. The fraud is also known as the "419 scam" and is operated by a fraudster, usually a member of a criminal syndicate. These scams originated from Nigeria but syndicates of other countries have become involved in advance fee fraud scams.
The scam is initiated with the fraudster contacting a targeted company, either by fax, mail or e-mail. A business proposal is made, usually by a syndicate posing as senior government officials. The fraudsters claim that they are in possession of a large amount of over-budgeted money, usually American dollars. The proposal entails the transfer of the over-budgeted money to a bank account outside of the country where the scam originates, which is that of the targeted company. The person receiving the correspondence is generally promised between 20 to 35 percent of the money to be transferred as commission for the use of his/her bank account.
The money is obtained from the victim in a number of ways, such as:
* Requesting the victim to deposit money into a specified bank account to help cover expenses for completing the deal;
* Once the original fee has been paid, "complications" may arise which necessitate the payment of more fees;
* Organising a meeting in certain countries and, once the victim is in the said country, his passport is confiscated and he/she is detained until sufficient payment is received;
* Using the bank details on official letterheads to transfer money out of the victim's bank account and into an account under the control of the criminals.
A lottery scam is initiated by the fraudster contacting individuals randomly, normally by e-mail. The fraudster poses as an official of a Lottery Company and advises the individual that he/she won a lottery to which the individual never purchased a ticket. The winning numbers are quoted in the correspondence and although the Lottery Company to which the fraudster claims to belong may exist and the numbers be the winning numbers (these are published by the Company), this is a scam. The same methods are used as with the 419 scam to extract money from the intended victim.
The scam is initiated with the fraudster contacting a targeted company, either by fax, mail or e-mail. A business proposal is made, usually by a syndicate posing as senior government officials. The fraudsters claim that they are in possession of a large amount of over-budgeted money, usually American dollars. The proposal entails the transfer of the over-budgeted money to a bank account outside of the country where the scam originates, which is that of the targeted company. The person receiving the correspondence is generally promised between 20 to 35 percent of the money to be transferred as commission for the use of his/her bank account.
The money is obtained from the victim in a number of ways, such as:
* Requesting the victim to deposit money into a specified bank account to help cover expenses for completing the deal;
* Once the original fee has been paid, "complications" may arise which necessitate the payment of more fees;
* Organising a meeting in certain countries and, once the victim is in the said country, his passport is confiscated and he/she is detained until sufficient payment is received;
* Using the bank details on official letterheads to transfer money out of the victim's bank account and into an account under the control of the criminals.
A lottery scam is initiated by the fraudster contacting individuals randomly, normally by e-mail. The fraudster poses as an official of a Lottery Company and advises the individual that he/she won a lottery to which the individual never purchased a ticket. The winning numbers are quoted in the correspondence and although the Lottery Company to which the fraudster claims to belong may exist and the numbers be the winning numbers (these are published by the Company), this is a scam. The same methods are used as with the 419 scam to extract money from the intended victim.
Posted on Sunday, June 22, 2008
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Thousands of consumers every year receive what appears to be a tantalizing business opportunity from a stranger, normally in a foreign country. This person claims to have a fortune that he's willing to share with the consumer, if he can only get some help smuggling the money out of the country.
The sum is usually in the tens of millions, and the writer offers to share 10 percent or so with the consumer. This is always a scam. Most believe it originated in Nigeria, where it is known as the 419 scam, named after a section of Nigeria's fraud statutes. However, the scammer may claim to be anywhere, not necessarily Nigeria.
The sum is usually in the tens of millions, and the writer offers to share 10 percent or so with the consumer. This is always a scam. Most believe it originated in Nigeria, where it is known as the 419 scam, named after a section of Nigeria's fraud statutes. However, the scammer may claim to be anywhere, not necessarily Nigeria.
Posted on Thursday, June 19, 2008
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Watch out for letters, emails or fax messages asking for your help to transfer a substantial amount of money, usually many millions of pounds, out of the sender’s country.The bulk of these mailings are from Nigeria but an increasing number are now coming from South Africa and other parts of the world. What they have in common is that the fraudsters require you to send money (an 'advance fee') to 'finance the transfer'.
It is sometimes known as the '419' fraud as this refers to the Nigerian Government department tasked with tackling the problem.
Typically the letters are headed "urgent business proposal" and "in strictest confidence" and suggest that if you allow the sender to use your bank account to transfer money into, then you will receive a percentage.
However, if you do respond, you will simply be asked for money to 'help the transfer along', and, if you then send money, you will be asked for more and more money until you finally realise that this is a scam, and the 'millions of pounds' do not exist.
Posted on Tuesday, June 17, 2008
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Nigerian-type scams continue to be the most prolific scams hitting Western Australians. This well-known scam began in the 1980s and spreads through Europe, North America and Australia. People receive a letter advising there are millions of dollars held in a Nigerian banks account that they can share in by sending details of their bank account and blank letterhead.
The sender of the letter, who usually describes himself as a highly placed and influential person with contacts in the Nigerian Government, says fictitious invoices will be prepared to enable the transfer of money to the account of the targeted business. To 'facilitate' the transfer, the business has to first pay approximately $5,000 to the contact in Nigeria for fees, taxes and bribes.
People have been stung for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Similar letters are now arriving from South America, Asia, European and Arabic nations. Variations include proceeds from a will, church funds being saved from a dictatorship, and widows from the World Trade Centre tragedy.
The sender of the letter, who usually describes himself as a highly placed and influential person with contacts in the Nigerian Government, says fictitious invoices will be prepared to enable the transfer of money to the account of the targeted business. To 'facilitate' the transfer, the business has to first pay approximately $5,000 to the contact in Nigeria for fees, taxes and bribes.
People have been stung for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Similar letters are now arriving from South America, Asia, European and Arabic nations. Variations include proceeds from a will, church funds being saved from a dictatorship, and widows from the World Trade Centre tragedy.
Posted on Monday, June 16, 2008
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George Agbinone and Ovie Ukueku, were sentenced yesterday to prison terms of 3 ½ years and 12 months imprisonment years respectively. They had pleaded guilty to a £½ million advance fee fraud through the use of so called "Nigerian letters" where victims were offered a percentage of a large, but phantom, sum of money for assistance to transfer these sums out of West Africa.
Background
George Agbinone (31), and Ovie Ukueku (29), are Nigerian nationals residing in London. They were involved in the carrying on of Nigerian letter frauds, also known as "419 frauds". Their net of victims included residents of the UK, the USA, and countries on mainland Europe. Eighteen victims were being called to give evidence in the case, although the total number of victims remains undetermined.
A "419 fraud" (named after the relevant section of the Nigerian Criminal Code) is a popular crime with the West African criminal element. There is a myriad of schemes and scams - mail, faxed and telephone promises designed to facilitate victims parting with money. The letters explain how the sender has knowledge of considerable funds - usually described as government or state enterprise money - in his home country that can be unlocked provided the recipient of the letter assists in the transfer the funds out of the country. This requires the recipient to forward a payment to help facilitate the administration of the transfer. A promise of a sizeable share of the cash is the dangled carrot. On average, each UK victim of "419" fraud loses around £30,000.
In this particular case, the Crown alleged that between 1996 and 2000, the victims were parted from their money by responding to letters from a "Dr Rabiu" who claimed to be linked to funds in Nigeria. "Dr Rabiu" was a fiction. The defendants were involved in these letters from "Dr Rabiu", that invited potential victims to pay advance fees to the "Foreign Payments Bureau" so that funds could be released and moved out of Nigeria.
Investigators discovered that "Dr. Rabiu's" telephone and fax numbers matched a satellite telephone recovered from premises occupied by George Agbinone. Searches of the defendants' residences uncovered incriminating evidence found on computers and disks and paper documents. Some items of evidence had been concealed behind wall panelling. Ukueku was found to have numerous letters addressed to potential victims stored on computer disks that showed that he was involved in this activity and admitted to participating in the fraud since 1998.
Background
George Agbinone (31), and Ovie Ukueku (29), are Nigerian nationals residing in London. They were involved in the carrying on of Nigerian letter frauds, also known as "419 frauds". Their net of victims included residents of the UK, the USA, and countries on mainland Europe. Eighteen victims were being called to give evidence in the case, although the total number of victims remains undetermined.
A "419 fraud" (named after the relevant section of the Nigerian Criminal Code) is a popular crime with the West African criminal element. There is a myriad of schemes and scams - mail, faxed and telephone promises designed to facilitate victims parting with money. The letters explain how the sender has knowledge of considerable funds - usually described as government or state enterprise money - in his home country that can be unlocked provided the recipient of the letter assists in the transfer the funds out of the country. This requires the recipient to forward a payment to help facilitate the administration of the transfer. A promise of a sizeable share of the cash is the dangled carrot. On average, each UK victim of "419" fraud loses around £30,000.
In this particular case, the Crown alleged that between 1996 and 2000, the victims were parted from their money by responding to letters from a "Dr Rabiu" who claimed to be linked to funds in Nigeria. "Dr Rabiu" was a fiction. The defendants were involved in these letters from "Dr Rabiu", that invited potential victims to pay advance fees to the "Foreign Payments Bureau" so that funds could be released and moved out of Nigeria.
Investigators discovered that "Dr. Rabiu's" telephone and fax numbers matched a satellite telephone recovered from premises occupied by George Agbinone. Searches of the defendants' residences uncovered incriminating evidence found on computers and disks and paper documents. Some items of evidence had been concealed behind wall panelling. Ukueku was found to have numerous letters addressed to potential victims stored on computer disks that showed that he was involved in this activity and admitted to participating in the fraud since 1998.
Posted on Sunday, June 15, 2008
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Black money scam, known in Nigeria as "wash wash," is almost as popular as advance fee fraud "419". The victim is usually enticed with a business proposal or other type of temptation before the introduction of the black money business. Once the scam artist successfully persuades the victim, he is then shown a bag or suitcase full of black paper, cut to USD size and arranged in bundles. Each bundle has a genuine one hundred-dollar bill at each end that are temporarily masked or defaced with a black waxy material or iodine. The victim is made to believe that the entire bag contains bundles of genuine one hundred-dollar bills that are temporary masked and need to be cleansed. The scam artist asks for money to purchase an expensive chemical-cleaning agent to restore the money.
Posted on Friday, June 13, 2008
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There is a new trend in the ever-growing Advance Fee Fraud Scams called "the Nigerian Hot Jobs scam." It is a new type of Advance Fee fraud, where a vacancy advertisement is sent on the Internet via email or posted on a fake website. The scam artists also pull resumes from websites where job hunters post their resumes. The offer is for a lucrative job, usually in the Nigerian oil industry. The job offer promises between $15,000 to $65,000 per month and extensive vacation time. In addition, the employee will be provided with living accommodations and a car. If the victim were to apply for this lucrative job, he/she is lured to pay some fees and taxation. Needless to say after the victim has paid these fees, he/she will soon realize that hot jobs are not available in Nigeria.
Posted on Thursday, June 12, 2008
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Named for the violation of Section 419 of the Nigerian Criminal Code, the 419 scam combines the threat of impersonation fraud with a variation of an advance fee scheme in which a letter, email, or fax is received by the potential victim. The communication from individuals representing themselves as Nigerian or foreign government officials offers the recipient the "opportunity" to share in a percentage of millions of dollars, soliciting for help in placing large sums of money in overseas bank accounts. Payment of taxes, bribes to government officials, and legal fees are often described in great detail with the promise that all expenses will be reimbursed as soon as the funds are out of the country. The recipient is encouraged to send information to the author, such as blank letterhead stationary, bank name and account numbers, and other identifying information using a facsimile number provided in the letter. The scheme relies on convincing a willing victim to send money to the author of the letter in several installments of increasing amounts for a variety of reasons.
Posted on Wednesday, June 11, 2008
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Auction fraud involves fraud attributable to the misrepresentation of a product advertised for sale through an Internet auction site or the non-delivery of products purchased through an Internet auction site.
Consumers are strongly cautioned against entering into Internet transactions with subjects exhibiting the following behavior:
* The seller posts the auction as if he resides in the United States, then responds to victims with a congratulatory email stating he is outside the United States for business reasons, family emergency, etc. Similarly, beware of sellers who post the auction under one name, and ask for the funds to be transferred to another individual.
* The subject requests funds to be wired directly to him/her via Western Union, MoneyGram, or bank-to-bank wire transfer. By using these services, the money is virtually unrecoverable with no recourse for the victim.
* Sellers acting as authorized dealers or factory representatives in countries where there would be no such dealers should be avoided.
* Buyers who ask for the purchase to be shipped using a certain method to avoid customs or taxes inside another country should be avoided.
* Be suspect of any credit card purchases where the address of the card holder does not match the shipping address. Always receive the card holder's authorization before shipping any products.
If you believe you may have fallen victim to this type of scam and wish to report it, please file a complaint with us.
Consumers are strongly cautioned against entering into Internet transactions with subjects exhibiting the following behavior:
* The seller posts the auction as if he resides in the United States, then responds to victims with a congratulatory email stating he is outside the United States for business reasons, family emergency, etc. Similarly, beware of sellers who post the auction under one name, and ask for the funds to be transferred to another individual.
* The subject requests funds to be wired directly to him/her via Western Union, MoneyGram, or bank-to-bank wire transfer. By using these services, the money is virtually unrecoverable with no recourse for the victim.
* Sellers acting as authorized dealers or factory representatives in countries where there would be no such dealers should be avoided.
* Buyers who ask for the purchase to be shipped using a certain method to avoid customs or taxes inside another country should be avoided.
* Be suspect of any credit card purchases where the address of the card holder does not match the shipping address. Always receive the card holder's authorization before shipping any products.
If you believe you may have fallen victim to this type of scam and wish to report it, please file a complaint with us.
Posted on Tuesday, June 10, 2008
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Impersonation fraud occurs when someone assumes your identity to perform a fraud or other criminal act. Criminals can get the information they need to assume your identity from a variety of sources, such as the theft of your wallet, your trash, or from credit or bank information. They may approach you in person, by telephone, or on the Internet and ask you for the information.
The sources of information about you are so numerous that you cannot prevent the theft of your identity. But you can minimize your risk of loss by following a few simple hints.
Some Tips to Avoid Impersonation/Identity Fraud:
The sources of information about you are so numerous that you cannot prevent the theft of your identity. But you can minimize your risk of loss by following a few simple hints.
Some Tips to Avoid Impersonation/Identity Fraud:
- Never throw away ATM receipts, credit statements, credit cards, or bank statements in a usable form.
- Never give your credit card number over the telephone unless you make the call.
- Reconcile your bank account monthly and notify your bank of discrepancies immediately.
- Keep a list of telephone numbers to call to report the loss or theft of your wallet, credit cards, etc.
- Report unauthorized financial transactions to your bank, credit card company, and the police as soon as you detect them.
- Review a copy of your credit report at least once each year. Notify the credit bureau in writing of any questionable entries and follow through until they are explained or removed.
- If your identity has been assumed, ask the credit bureau to print a statement to that effect in your credit report.
- If you know of anyone who receives mail from credit card companies or banks in the names of others, report it to local or federal law enforcement authorities.
Posted on Monday, June 9, 2008
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Medical Equipment Fraud:
Equipment manufacturers offer "free" products to individuals. Insurers are then charged for products that were not needed and/or may not have been delivered.
"Rolling Lab" Schemes:
Unnecessary and sometimes fake tests are given to individuals at health clubs, retirement homes, or shopping malls and billed to insurance companies or Medicare.
Services Not Performed:
Customers or providers bill insurers for services never rendered by changing bills or submitting fake ones.
Medicare Fraud:
Medicare fraud can take the form of any of the health insurance frauds described above. Senior citizens are frequent targets of Medicare schemes, especially by medical equipment manufacturers who offer seniors free medical products in exchange for their Medicare numbers. Because a physician has to sign a form certifying that equipment or testing is needed before Medicare pays for it, con artists fake signatures or bribe corrupt doctors to sign the forms. Once a signature is in place, the manufacturers bill Medicare for merchandise or service that was not needed or was not ordered.
Some Tips to Avoid the Health Insurance Fraud:
Equipment manufacturers offer "free" products to individuals. Insurers are then charged for products that were not needed and/or may not have been delivered.
"Rolling Lab" Schemes:
Unnecessary and sometimes fake tests are given to individuals at health clubs, retirement homes, or shopping malls and billed to insurance companies or Medicare.
Services Not Performed:
Customers or providers bill insurers for services never rendered by changing bills or submitting fake ones.
Medicare Fraud:
Medicare fraud can take the form of any of the health insurance frauds described above. Senior citizens are frequent targets of Medicare schemes, especially by medical equipment manufacturers who offer seniors free medical products in exchange for their Medicare numbers. Because a physician has to sign a form certifying that equipment or testing is needed before Medicare pays for it, con artists fake signatures or bribe corrupt doctors to sign the forms. Once a signature is in place, the manufacturers bill Medicare for merchandise or service that was not needed or was not ordered.
Some Tips to Avoid the Health Insurance Fraud:
- Never sign blank insurance claim forms.
- Never give blanket authorization to a medical provider to bill for services rendered.
- Ask your medical providers what they will charge and what you will be expected to pay out-of-pocket.
- Carefully review your insurer's explanation of the benefits statement. Call your insurer and provider if you have questions.
- Do not do business with door-to-door or telephone salespeople who tell you that services of medical equipment are free.
- Give your insurance/Medicare identification only to those who have provided you with medical services.
- Keep accurate records of all health care appointments.
- Know if your physician ordered equipment for you.
Posted on Friday, June 6, 2008
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- If you receive a letter from Nigeria asking you to send personal or banking information, do not reply in any manner. Send the letter to the U.S. Secret Service, your local FBI office, or the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. You can also register a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission's Consumer Sentinel.
- If you know someone who is corresponding in one of these schemes, encourage that person to contact the FBI or the U.S. Secret Service as soon as possible.
- Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as Nigerian or foreign government officials asking for your help in placing large sums of money in overseas bank accounts.
- Do not believe the promise of large sums of money for your cooperation.
- Guard your account information carefully.
Posted on Thursday, June 5, 2008
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Nigerian letter frauds combine the threat of impersonation fraud with a variation of an advance fee scheme in which a letter, mailed from Nigeria, offers the recipient the "opportunity" to share in a percentage of millions of dollars that the author, a self-proclaimed government official, is trying to transfer illegally out of Nigeria. The recipient is encouraged to send information to the author, such as blank letterhead stationery, bank name and account numbers and other identifying information using a facsimile number provided in the letter. Some of these letters have also been received via E-mail through the Internet. The scheme relies on convincing a willing victim, who has demonstrated a "propensity for larceny" by responding to the invitation, to send money to the author of the letter in Nigeria in several installments of increasing amounts for a variety of reasons.
Payment of taxes, bribes to government officials, and legal fees are often described in great detail with the promise that all expenses will be reimbursed as soon as the funds are spirited out of Nigeria. In actuality, the millions of dollars do not exist and the victim eventually ends up with nothing but loss. Once the victim stops sending money, the perpetrators have been known to use the personal information and checks that they received to impersonate the victim, draining bank accounts and credit card balances until the victim's assets are taken in their entirety. While such an invitation impresses most law-abiding citizens as a laughable hoax, millions of dollars in losses are caused by these schemes annually. Some victims have been lured to Nigeria, where they have been imprisoned against their will, in addition to losing large sums of money. The Nigerian government is not sympathetic to victims of these schemes, since the victim actually conspires to remove funds from Nigeria in a manner that is contrary to Nigerian law. The schemes themselves violate section 419 of the Nigerian criminal code, hence the label "419 fraud."
Payment of taxes, bribes to government officials, and legal fees are often described in great detail with the promise that all expenses will be reimbursed as soon as the funds are spirited out of Nigeria. In actuality, the millions of dollars do not exist and the victim eventually ends up with nothing but loss. Once the victim stops sending money, the perpetrators have been known to use the personal information and checks that they received to impersonate the victim, draining bank accounts and credit card balances until the victim's assets are taken in their entirety. While such an invitation impresses most law-abiding citizens as a laughable hoax, millions of dollars in losses are caused by these schemes annually. Some victims have been lured to Nigeria, where they have been imprisoned against their will, in addition to losing large sums of money. The Nigerian government is not sympathetic to victims of these schemes, since the victim actually conspires to remove funds from Nigeria in a manner that is contrary to Nigerian law. The schemes themselves violate section 419 of the Nigerian criminal code, hence the label "419 fraud."
Posted on Wednesday, June 4, 2008
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Some email users have lost money to bogus offers that arrived as spam in their in-box. Con artists are very cunning; they know how to make their claims seem legitimate. Some spam messages ask for your business, others invite you to a website with a detailed pitch. Either way, these tips can help you avoid spam scams:
- Protect your personal information: Share credit card or other personal information only when you're buying from a company you know and trust.
- Know who you're dealing with: Don't do business with any company that won't provide its name, street address, and telephone number.
- Take your time: Resist any urge to "act now" despite the offer and the terms. Once you turn over your money, you may never get it back.
- Read the small print: Get all promises in writing and review them carefully before you make a payment or sign a contract.
- Never pay for a "free" gift: Disregard any offer that asks you to pay for a gift or prize. If it's free or a gift, you shouldn't have to pay for it. Free means free.
Posted on Tuesday, June 3, 2008
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How the scam works
To ensure a "hitch free transfer" of your share of the windfall, they will often ask for your bank account details. This is only the beginning. Once you're hooked, you'll be asked to pay all sorts of "advance fees" (eg customs, taxes, bribes) to facilitate the transfer. These fees are the real purpose of the scam, and may add up to tens of thousands of dollars. Over US $5 billion from gullible victims has been lost to scamsters.
Posted on Friday, June 27, 2008