NIGERIAN ADVANCE FEE SCAM (419 SCAM)
Also known as "419 Fraud" after its corresponding section of the Nigerian Criminal Code, the scam begins when you receive
an unsolicited fax, email, or letter asking for your assistance concerning a business proposal in Nigeria or some other
African nation. These proposals usually deal with "overinvoiced contract funds" but may also include a bequest left to you
in a will, a non-existent bank where there is money in your account, or a request for helping to "clean money."
At some point, you are asked to pay an upfront advance fee, extend credit, or send back "change" on a cashier's check or money order. If you pay the fee, there are often "complications" which require still more payments until you either quit, or run out of money.
In recent months, this scam has begun to target sellers of items on Internet auction sites. An individual will contact you to inform you that they would like to purchase your item for more than what you are selling it for. When you receive their payment, usually in the form of a money order or cashier's check, you are to return the difference to the buyer. Ultimately the check or money order will turn out to be counterfeit.
The 419 Coalition maintains a website to educate the public about this scam which generates billions of dollars a year. Also check out Les Henderson's Crimes-of-Persuasion, an informative resource for this and other frauds.
August 6, 2005 - Associated Press writer Dulue Mbachu's story on the ongoing work of Internet scammers in Nigeria.
July 28, 2005 - Read the MSNBC article by Bob Sullivan entitled: "Seduced into scams; Online lovers often duped. Dating site, singles chat rooms latest target of Nigerian scams."
June 10, 2005 - Read the MSNBC article by Bob Sullivan entitled: "Nigerian scams keep evolving; How to spot the latest variations and avoid being duped."
At some point, you are asked to pay an upfront advance fee, extend credit, or send back "change" on a cashier's check or money order. If you pay the fee, there are often "complications" which require still more payments until you either quit, or run out of money.
In recent months, this scam has begun to target sellers of items on Internet auction sites. An individual will contact you to inform you that they would like to purchase your item for more than what you are selling it for. When you receive their payment, usually in the form of a money order or cashier's check, you are to return the difference to the buyer. Ultimately the check or money order will turn out to be counterfeit.
The 419 Coalition maintains a website to educate the public about this scam which generates billions of dollars a year. Also check out Les Henderson's Crimes-of-Persuasion, an informative resource for this and other frauds.
August 6, 2005 - Associated Press writer Dulue Mbachu's story on the ongoing work of Internet scammers in Nigeria.
July 28, 2005 - Read the MSNBC article by Bob Sullivan entitled: "Seduced into scams; Online lovers often duped. Dating site, singles chat rooms latest target of Nigerian scams."
June 10, 2005 - Read the MSNBC article by Bob Sullivan entitled: "Nigerian scams keep evolving; How to spot the latest variations and avoid being duped."
www.richmondIDtheft.com
The Metro Richmond Identity Theft Task Force is a cooperative effort
Click HERE for a complete list of scams and other fraudulent activity.
of federal, state, county and local law enforcement agencies working together to address
the growing problem of financial crimes. The task force is run under the direction of the
United States Postal Inspection Service.