Nigerian Advance Fee Scam
An unsolicited letter or email from Nigeria arrives purporting to be from a high government official or officer of the Nigerian National Oil Company asking if you or your company can help him (or them) move tens millions of dollars from a contract "overpayment" out of Nigeria. In return for the help, they offer to let you keep multi-millions of dollars. All you have to do is give them all your financial information and an "advance fee" to pay for transfer costs. You will never see your "advance fee" again if you fall for this one.
This scheme has been going on at least since the 1980s. Local authorities seem to be helpless to stop this fraud, as although many are based in Nigeria or another West African country, it is certainly not only Nigerian based criminals that send them.
There are many variants of the Nigerian Advanced Fee Fraud emails, but they all have the same theme.
The United States Secret Service calls these scams the "419 Advanced Fee Schemes" after the Nigerian Penal code fraud section. If you have been victimized by one of these schemes, please forward appropriate written documentation to the United States Secret Service, Financial Crimes Division, 950 H Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20223, or telephone (202) 406-5850.
What follows is the exact e-mail text of variations of a Nigerian Advanced Fee Scheme designed to separate you from your money. Read it carefully to see exactly what is being offered and what is not. The con men will attempt to get someone to front many thousands of dollars to buy the special solution that will clean the defaced money. Reportedly an individual from the mid-west flew to Amsterdam and paid $50,000 in good faith to get access to the millions offered. He claims to have been shown many 100 dollar bills covered in grease that would come clean after soaking in a special solution. The con artists even allowed the victim to change a few bills in a bank to prove that they were real. After being convinced (scammed), the Nigerians wanted the victim to pay $20,000 more in additional fees to complete the transaction and before transferring the millions. This is one of those offers that sound too good to be true...because it's a scam. They rely on your greed or financial desperation to hook you and draw you in. Don't fall for it.
I am Mrs. Maryam Abacha, the widow of the late Gen. Sanni Abacha former Nigeria Military Head of State who died mysteriously as a result of Cardiac Arrest. Since after my husband's death my family is under restriction of movement and that not withstanding, we are being molested, policed and our Bank Accounts both here and abroad are being frozen by the Nigerian Civilian Government. Furthermore, my living eldest son is in detention by the Nigerian Government for more interrogation about my husband's assets and some vital documents following the resent discovery of my husband's Swiss Bank Account in which the huge sum of US$700 Million and DM450 Million was logged. I therefore, decided to contact you in confidence through my lawyer Barrister Sule Kamal, since I have been able to move out the sum of US$30 Million Dollars somewhere abroad.
All the money are secretly defaced and are sealed in two metal Boxes for security reasons. Due to my experience in the hands of people. I have decided to do this with a totally new but trustworthy person who can keep this matter confidential. This is very important to me. It is to my consent here that my lawyer and I decided to personally appeal to you seriously and religiously for your urgent assistance to move this money into your country where I believe it will be safe since I cannot leave the country due to the restriction of movement imposed on the members of my family by the Nigerian Government. You can contact me through my lawyer s email address above and I shall get all document relating to the consignment changed to your name before delivery. Barrister Sule Kamal will on receipt of your response arrange with you for a face-to-face meeting outside Nigeria in order to liaise with you towards effective completion of this transactions. However, arrangements have been put in place to move this money out of the country in a secret vault through a security company, and as soon as you indicate your interest, my lawyer shall send you the Air-Way Bill of the luggage and other related document so that you can help to claim the luggage. Conclusively, we have agreed to offer you 25% of the total sum while 75% is to be held on trust by you for us until we can decide on a suitable business investment in your country upon our freedom. Please reply urgently and treat with absolute confidentiality and sincerity.
BEST REGARDS,
ARIAM ABACHA
Another variant:
FROM: DAVID ZUMA
#83 Davidson Street, Fairland,
Johannesburg, South Africa
TEL: +27-83-696-1410
FAX: +27-83-565-3200
Email:[email protected]
My Dear,
You may be surprised to receive this letter from me since you do not know me personally. I am David Zuma, the first son of Mr. Smith Zuma of Zimbabwe. During the current crisis against farmers of Zimbabwe by the supporters of our President Robert Mugabe to claim all the white owned farms in our country, he ordered all the white and rich farmers to surrender their farms to his party members and followers.
My father was one of the best farmers in the country and a major financier/sponsor of the opposition party,[Movement for democratic Change MDC],and knowing that my father did not support the president's political ideology, the President's supporters invaded my fathers farm, killed him and took over it.
Before the death of my father, he had taken me to Johannesburg to deposit the sum of $24,000,000.00(Twenty Four million united States Dollars), in one of the private security companies, as he forsaw the looming danger in Zimbabwe. This money was deposited in a box as gemstones, to avoid much demurrage from the security company. This amount was meant for the purchase of new machines and chemicals for the farms and establishment of new farms in Swaziland.
My family and I fled Zimbabwe for fear of our lives and are currently staying in Johannesburg South Africa, where we are seeking political asylum and moreso have decided to transfer my father's money to a more reliable foreign account. Since, the law of South Africa prohibits a refugee (asylum seeker) from opening any account or to be involved in any financial transaction throughout its territory.
As the eldest son of my father, I am saddled with the responsibility of seeking a genuine partner that could assist me without the knowledge of my government, who are bent on taking everything we have got. I am faced with the dilemma of moving this amount of money out of South Africa for fear of going through the same experience in future, as both countries have similar political history. As a businessman, I am seeking for a partner who I have to entrust my future and that of my family in his hands. I must let you know that this transaction is risk free.
Furthermore, this money I intend to use for investment. If my proposal is considered, for assisting us to transfer this money to your country under your supervision, We have agreed to give you 30% of the total sum for your assistance and 5% for the expenses that might be incurred in the course of the transfer and 65% for the family's investment in your country, which you will assist us materialized further information and discussion about the investment in your country. As soon as this transaction commences you should give us the assurance and confidence that this money will be safe when transferred to your account and please, treat this matter with urgency.
Feel free to contact me on the above telephone or fax numbers.
Thanks and God bless.
Best Regards,
DAVID ZUMA.
These are scams, don't fall for them.
This scheme has been going on at least since the 1980s. Local authorities seem to be helpless to stop this fraud, as although many are based in Nigeria or another West African country, it is certainly not only Nigerian based criminals that send them.
There are many variants of the Nigerian Advanced Fee Fraud emails, but they all have the same theme.
The United States Secret Service calls these scams the "419 Advanced Fee Schemes" after the Nigerian Penal code fraud section. If you have been victimized by one of these schemes, please forward appropriate written documentation to the United States Secret Service, Financial Crimes Division, 950 H Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20223, or telephone (202) 406-5850.
What follows is the exact e-mail text of variations of a Nigerian Advanced Fee Scheme designed to separate you from your money. Read it carefully to see exactly what is being offered and what is not. The con men will attempt to get someone to front many thousands of dollars to buy the special solution that will clean the defaced money. Reportedly an individual from the mid-west flew to Amsterdam and paid $50,000 in good faith to get access to the millions offered. He claims to have been shown many 100 dollar bills covered in grease that would come clean after soaking in a special solution. The con artists even allowed the victim to change a few bills in a bank to prove that they were real. After being convinced (scammed), the Nigerians wanted the victim to pay $20,000 more in additional fees to complete the transaction and before transferring the millions. This is one of those offers that sound too good to be true...because it's a scam. They rely on your greed or financial desperation to hook you and draw you in. Don't fall for it.
I am Mrs. Maryam Abacha, the widow of the late Gen. Sanni Abacha former Nigeria Military Head of State who died mysteriously as a result of Cardiac Arrest. Since after my husband's death my family is under restriction of movement and that not withstanding, we are being molested, policed and our Bank Accounts both here and abroad are being frozen by the Nigerian Civilian Government. Furthermore, my living eldest son is in detention by the Nigerian Government for more interrogation about my husband's assets and some vital documents following the resent discovery of my husband's Swiss Bank Account in which the huge sum of US$700 Million and DM450 Million was logged. I therefore, decided to contact you in confidence through my lawyer Barrister Sule Kamal, since I have been able to move out the sum of US$30 Million Dollars somewhere abroad.
All the money are secretly defaced and are sealed in two metal Boxes for security reasons. Due to my experience in the hands of people. I have decided to do this with a totally new but trustworthy person who can keep this matter confidential. This is very important to me. It is to my consent here that my lawyer and I decided to personally appeal to you seriously and religiously for your urgent assistance to move this money into your country where I believe it will be safe since I cannot leave the country due to the restriction of movement imposed on the members of my family by the Nigerian Government. You can contact me through my lawyer s email address above and I shall get all document relating to the consignment changed to your name before delivery. Barrister Sule Kamal will on receipt of your response arrange with you for a face-to-face meeting outside Nigeria in order to liaise with you towards effective completion of this transactions. However, arrangements have been put in place to move this money out of the country in a secret vault through a security company, and as soon as you indicate your interest, my lawyer shall send you the Air-Way Bill of the luggage and other related document so that you can help to claim the luggage. Conclusively, we have agreed to offer you 25% of the total sum while 75% is to be held on trust by you for us until we can decide on a suitable business investment in your country upon our freedom. Please reply urgently and treat with absolute confidentiality and sincerity.
BEST REGARDS,
ARIAM ABACHA
Another variant:
FROM: DAVID ZUMA
#83 Davidson Street, Fairland,
Johannesburg, South Africa
TEL: +27-83-696-1410
FAX: +27-83-565-3200
Email:[email protected]
My Dear,
You may be surprised to receive this letter from me since you do not know me personally. I am David Zuma, the first son of Mr. Smith Zuma of Zimbabwe. During the current crisis against farmers of Zimbabwe by the supporters of our President Robert Mugabe to claim all the white owned farms in our country, he ordered all the white and rich farmers to surrender their farms to his party members and followers.
My father was one of the best farmers in the country and a major financier/sponsor of the opposition party,[Movement for democratic Change MDC],and knowing that my father did not support the president's political ideology, the President's supporters invaded my fathers farm, killed him and took over it.
Before the death of my father, he had taken me to Johannesburg to deposit the sum of $24,000,000.00(Twenty Four million united States Dollars), in one of the private security companies, as he forsaw the looming danger in Zimbabwe. This money was deposited in a box as gemstones, to avoid much demurrage from the security company. This amount was meant for the purchase of new machines and chemicals for the farms and establishment of new farms in Swaziland.
My family and I fled Zimbabwe for fear of our lives and are currently staying in Johannesburg South Africa, where we are seeking political asylum and moreso have decided to transfer my father's money to a more reliable foreign account. Since, the law of South Africa prohibits a refugee (asylum seeker) from opening any account or to be involved in any financial transaction throughout its territory.
As the eldest son of my father, I am saddled with the responsibility of seeking a genuine partner that could assist me without the knowledge of my government, who are bent on taking everything we have got. I am faced with the dilemma of moving this amount of money out of South Africa for fear of going through the same experience in future, as both countries have similar political history. As a businessman, I am seeking for a partner who I have to entrust my future and that of my family in his hands. I must let you know that this transaction is risk free.
Furthermore, this money I intend to use for investment. If my proposal is considered, for assisting us to transfer this money to your country under your supervision, We have agreed to give you 30% of the total sum for your assistance and 5% for the expenses that might be incurred in the course of the transfer and 65% for the family's investment in your country, which you will assist us materialized further information and discussion about the investment in your country. As soon as this transaction commences you should give us the assurance and confidence that this money will be safe when transferred to your account and please, treat this matter with urgency.
Feel free to contact me on the above telephone or fax numbers.
Thanks and God bless.
Best Regards,
DAVID ZUMA.
These are scams, don't fall for them.