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ADVANCE FEE FRAUD A.K.A 419SAMPLES OF TYPICAL "ADVANCE FEE FRAUD" A.K.A 419 LETTERS HINTS ON ADVANCE FEE FRAUD a.k.a 419 1. The advance fee fraud is perpetrated by enticing the victim with a bogus 'business proposal which promises millions of US dollars as a reward. The scam letter usually promises to transfer huge amounts of money, usually in US dollars, purported to be part proceeds of certain contracts, to the addressee's bank account, to be shared in some proportion between the parties. A favourable response to the letter is followed by excuses why the funds cannot be remitted readily and subsequently by demands for proportionate sharing of payments for various taxes' and 'fees' supposedly to facilitate the processing and remittance of the alleged funds. The use of fake Government, Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation etc. documents is a common practice. 2. The fraudsters usually request that the transaction be done under the cover of confidentiality. Sometimes, the 'victims' are invited to Nigeria where they are given red carpet reception and attended to by the fraudsters, posing as Nigerian Government officials. Quite often the fraudsters invent bogus Government Committees, purported to have cleared the payments. Also, it is not unusual for them to contrive fake publications in the newspapers evidencing purported approvals to transfer non-existent funds. 3. To consummate the transaction, the 'victim' would be required to pay 'advance fees' for various purposes: e.g. processing fees, unforeseen taxes, license fees, registration fees, signing/legal fees, fees for National Economic Recovery Fund, VAT, audit fees, insurance coverage fees, etc. The collection of these 'advance fees' is actually the real objective of the scam! 4. A recent variant of these scams directed primarily at charitable organizations and religious bodies overseas, involves bogus inheritance under a will. Again the sole aim is to collect the 'advance fees' already described above. A new strategy that has been used too defraud the 'victims' is an offer to use chemicals to transform ordinary paper into United States dollar bills, which would be subsequently shared by the parties. 5. You are gain warned in your own interest not to become yet another dupe to these fraudulent solicitations or schemes. Genuine and prospective investors in Nigeria are advised to consult their home Chambers' of Commerce and Industry or Nigeria's Chambers' of Commerce and Industry, Manufacturers Associations of Nigeria, Federal Ministries of Commerce and Industry, Nigerian Missions in their countries of origin, their Embassies or High Commissions in Nigeria for proper briefing and advice. 6. Central Bank and indeed, the Federal Government of Nigeria cannot and should not be held responsible for bogus and shady deals transacted with criminal intentions. As a responsible corporate body, the Central Bank of Nigeria is once again warning all recipients of fraudulent letters on bogus deals, that there are no contract payments trapped in the bank's vaults. They are once again put on notice that all documents appertaining to the payment, claims or transfers purportedly issued by the bank, its senior executives or the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the various purposes described above are all forgeries, bogus and fraudulent. 7. Please join the Central Bank and the Federal Government of Nigeria to fight the criminal syndicates who play on the gullibility and greed of their victims by reporting any solicitation to your local law enforcement agencies or the local International Police Organization (Interpol).
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
The publicity campaigns by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria have proved successful in sensitizing the public about the menace of advance fee fraud and the falsehood of claims that easy money could be made in Nigeria. Consequently, the reported incidence of advance fee fraud (AKA. '419) has declined significantly. Nevertheless there are still some people who have continued to fall victim to the solicitations of advance fee fraudsters. This warning is, therefore, specifically intended for the benefit of those misguided people who, in the quest to make easy money at the expense of Nigeria, are defrauded by international fraudsters.
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
SAMPLE OF TYPICAL "ADVANCE FEE FRAUD" A.K.A
SAMPLE 1 I am Mr.---------------, a Senior Accountant with the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA). I came to know of you in my search for a reputable institution/person who can handle a very strictly, confidential transaction which involves transfer of a reasonable sum of money to a foreign account.
Presently, there is Twelve million United States Dollars ($12,000,000.00) only, in my department awaiting remittance. I was a member of the contract award committee that monitored the award and execution of a contract of US$145M by a foreign firm, my colleagues and my self over invoiced this contract and declared US$145M.
You are expected to forward to me through the above telefax number, the following details: Be informed that on the completion of this business, I will use my share of the money to procure goods from your company or any company you may introduce. Do not contact your bank yet because payment justification is going to be provided by the CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA to your bank. Finally, on acceptance of this request, please reply through the above fax number 234-1-759 5763 Tel/fax 234-1-288 1498. This is to guarantee the confidentiality of your interest.
Best regards,
SAMPLE 2 HAVING CONSULTED WITH MY COLLEAGUES, AND BASED ON THE INFORMATION GATHERED FROM AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION HERE IN NIGERIA, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO REQUEST YOUR ASSISTANCE TO TRANSFER THE SUM OF TWENTY SEVEN MILLION, FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS ($27.4 U.S. DOLLARS) INTO OYUR ACCOUNT. THE ABOVE SUM RESULTED FROM AN OVER-INVOICED CONTRACT EXECUTED, COMMISSIONED AND PAID FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS (5YRS) AGO BY A FOREIGN CONTRACTOR. THIS ACTION WAS HOWEVER INTENTIONAL AND SINCE THEN THE FUND HAS BEEN IN A SUSPENCE ACCOUNT AT THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA, OUR APEX BANK. WE ARE NOW READY TO TRANSFER THE FUND OVERSEAS, AND THAT IS WHERE YOU COME IN. IT IS IMPORTANT TO INFORM YOU THAT AS CIVIL SERVANTS, WE ARE FORBIDDEN TO OPERATE FOREIGN ACCOUNTS; THAT IS WHY WE REQUIRE YOUR ASSISTANCE. THE TOTAL SUM WILL BE SHARED AS FOLLOWS:- 70% FOR US, 25% FOR YOU AND 5% FOR LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXPENSES INCIDENTAL TO THE TRANSFER. THE TRANSFER IS RISK FREE ON BOTH SIDES. I AM AN ACCOUNTANT WITH THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION (N.N.P.C.). IF YOU FIND THIS PROPOSAL ACCEPTABLE, WE SHALL FAX YOU A FOREIGN CONTRACTOR APPLICATION FORM WHICH YOU WILL HAVE TO COMPLETE AND FAX BACK TO US.
THIS BUSINESS WILL TAKE US 30 WORKING DAYS TO ACCOMPLISH.
DEAR SIR, I AM BARRISTER-------------, SENIOR ADVOCATE OF NIGERIA (SAN). I REPRESENT MOHAMMED ABACHA, SON OF THE LATE GEN. SANI ABACHA, WHO WAS THE FORMER MILITARY HEAD OF STATE IN NIGERIA. HE DIED IN 1988. SINCE HIS DEATH, THE FAMILY HAS BEEN LOOSING A LOT OF MONEY DUE TO VINDICTIVE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WHO ARE BENT ON DEALING WITH THE FAMILY. BASED ON THIS THEREFORE, THE FAMILY HAS ASKED ME TO SEEK FOR A FOREIGN PARTNER WHO CAN WORK WITH US AS TO MOVE OUT THE TOTAL SUM OF US$75,000,000.00 (SEVENTY FIVE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS), PRESENTLY IN THEIR POSSESSION. THIS MONEY WAS OF COURSE, ACQUIRED BY THE LATE PRESIDENT AND IS NOW KEPT SECRETLY BY THE FAMILY. THE SWISS GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY FROZEN ALL THE ACOUNTS OF THE FAMILY IN SWITZERLAND, AND SOME OTHER COUNTRIES WOULD SOON FOLLOW TO DO THE SAME. THIS BID BY SOME GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO DEAL WITH THIS FAMILY HAS MADE IT NECESSARY THAT WE SEEK YOUR ASSISTANCE IN RECEIVING THIS MONEY AND IN INVESTING IT ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILY. THIS MUST BE A JOINT VENTURE TRANSACTION AND WE MUST ALL WORK TOGETHER. SINCE THIS MONEY IS STILL CASH EXTRA SECURITY MEASURES HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO PROTECT IT FROM THEFT OR SEIZURE, PENDING WHEN AGREEMENT IS REACHED ON WHEN AND HOW TO MOVE IT INTO ANY OF YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNTS. I HAVE PERSONALLY WORKED OUT ALL MODALITIES FOR THE PEACEFUL CONCLUSION OF THIS TRANSACTION. THE TRANSACTION DEFINITELY WOULD BE HANDLED IN PHASES AND THE FIRST PHASE WILL INVOLVE THE MOVING OF US$25,000,000.00 (TWENTY FIVE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS). MY CLIENTS ARE WILLING TO GIVE YOU A REASONABLE PERCENTAGE OF THIS MONEY AS SOON AS THE TRANSACTION IS CONCLUDED. I WILL, HOWEVER, BASED ON THE GROUNDS THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH US AND ALSO ALL CONTENTIOUS ISSUES DISCUSSED BEFORE THE COMMENCEMENT OF THIS TRANSACTION. YOU MAY ALSO DISCUSS YOUR PERCENTAGE BEFORE WE START TO WORK. AS SOON AS I HEAR FROM YOU, I WILL GIVE YOU ALL NECESSARY DETAILS AS TO HOW WE INTEND TO CARRY OUT THE WHOLE TRANSACTION. PLEASE, DO NOT ENTERTAIN ANY FEARS, AS ALL NECESSARY MODALITIES ARE IN PLACE, AND I ASSURE YOU OF ALL SUCCESS AND SAFETY IN THIS TRANSACTION.
PLEASE, THIS TRANSACTION REQUIRES ABSOLUTE CONFIDENTIALITY AND YOU WOULD BE EXPECTED TO TREAT IT AS SUCH UNTIL THE FUNDS ARE MOVED OUT OF THIS COUNTRY.
1. WHAT IS IT? Requests are initially simple and easily accompanied by unsuspecting minds, and are a natural extension of scam letters which contain the sort of information mentioned above. These letters are tempting as they tend to show the ease with which money can accrue to the addressees. Thus, when items such as particulars of Bankers, Company letter head stationeries and blank Company proforma invoices are asked for, they are usually received. Writers of fraudulent (scam) letters often purport to be persons of social distinction, giving themselves bogus prefixes such as Alhaji, Doctor, Prince, Engineer, Chief, HRH(His Royal Highness) etc. They also lay claim to positions of high status as in being Chief Executive Officers, Chairmen, Executive Directors etc. These positions are claimed to be held in Government offices such as the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigeria Security Printing & minting Company (NSPMC), Nigeria Telecommunications (NITEL), Nigeria Postal Services (NIPOST), Ministry of Defense (MOD), etc. The purported advantages of such proposals lies in the making of huge monetary gains, with minimal effort or input. In the case of transfer of funds, there is the inducement of a commission of between thirty to forty percent of the total amount involved to the benefit of the addressee. Advance Fee Fraud demands surface soon after a link with a would be victim has been made, and normal course of communication established. Series of demands for money are made under several guises, one demand metamorphosing to the other until the victim is unwilling to make further payments in the apparent realisation of deceit in the whole transaction.
Such guises include request for:
NOTE:
a) The Assistant Inspector-General of Police,
b) The Commissioner of Police, Where you find yourself in Nigeria, and probably unaware of the fraudulent nature of the transaction you are pursuing, promptly report your presence, giving details of flight, hotel accommodation and other relevant in formation to any of the officers listed above, or the nearest Police Station or your Embassy for security reasons.
3. WHAT NOT TO DO.
LATEST GOVERNMENT MEASURES AGAINST ADVANCE FEE FRAUD. |