ADVANCE FEE FRAUD" SCHEMES
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"ADVANCE FEE FRAUD" SCHEMES
PUBLIC AWARENESS ADVISORY REGARDING "4-1-9"
OR "ADVANCE FEE FRAUD" SCHEMES

Despite efforts by banks and the authorities to bring this scourge to an end, many persons are still being scammed, normally due to a lack of knowledge. The public should be aware of the far reaching consequences of these scams. Not only are persons losing money, but that money is may be used to purchase hardcore drugs for sale to the public.

Once the perpetrators have achieved their objective (to relieve the victim for as much money as possible) fraudulent websites and communication lines are abandoned and the victim has no recourse to the lost funds. In many cases the telephone numbers are prepaid, cellphone numbers which cannot be traced.
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1 st one Scammed E MAIL TAKEN FROM TIG
From:
"MRS KAREN NORMAN"  
To:
fgc@yahoo.ca
Date:
Sun, 11 Sep 2005 18:52:59 +0100
Subject:
FROM :MRS KAREN NORMAN{ UK }
DEAR SIR,

I AM MRS KAREN NORMAN,THE CHIEF CORPORATE INVESTMENT BANKER OF A BANK
IN UK.
I MUST SOLICIT YOUR CONFIDENCE IN WHAT AM ABOUT TO TELL YOU.THIS IS BY
VIRTUE
OF IT'S NATURE AS BEING HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL AND URGENT.

I AM LOOKING FOR A RELIABLE AND REPUTABLE PERSON TO HANDLE A
CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS TRANSACTION.
A LEADING BUSINESS MAN AND STATEMAN OF A FAR EASTERN COUNTRY UNTIL HIS
DEATH RECENTLY,
BANKED AND HAD A CLOSING BALANCE OF US$8M (EIGHTMILLION UNITED STATES
DOLLARS) IN A
FIXED DEPOSIT ACCOUNT. WHICH THE BANK UNQUESTIONABLY EXPECTS TO BE
CLAIMED BY
ANY AVAILABLE FOREIGN NEXT-OF-KIN TO THE LATE BENEFICIARY.

SIR,I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS WITH YOU IN REGARDS TO THIS FUNDS.

THANKS,

BEST REGARDS,

MRS KAREN NORMAN
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2nd one SCAMMED E- MAIL ADDRESS FROM TIG
From:
"hajia mariam"   
Subject:
IN GOOD FAITH..
Date:
Mon, 08 Aug 2005 10:56:33 +0000
Dear Beloved,
Due to the sudden death of my husband General
Abacha the former head of state of Nigeria in
June 1998, I have been thrown into a state of
hopelessness by the present administration.I have
lost confidence with anybody within my country.
I got your contacts through personal research,
and had to reach you through this medium.
I will give you more details when you reply.
Due to security network placed on my daily
affairs I cant visit the embassy so that is
why I have contacted you.
My husband deposited $12.6million dollars with
a security firm abroad whose name is witheld for
now till we communicate.
I will be happy if you can receive this funds
and keep it safe I assure you 20% of this fund.
I will need your telephone/ mobile numbers so that we
can commence communication. Please reach me via my
private email address of:
hajiamariam004@sify.com
Please expedite action.
Yours,
Hajia Mariam.
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4-1-9 Schemes frequently use the following tactics:
• An individual or company receives a letter or fax from an alleged "official" representing a foreign government or agency;
• An offer is made to transfer millions of dollars in "over invoiced contract" funds into your personal bank account;
• You are encouraged to travel overseas to complete the transaction;
• You are requested to provide blank company letterhead forms, banking account information, telephone/fax numbers;
• You receive numerous documents with official looking stamps, seals and logo testifying to the authenticity of the proposal;
• Eventually you must provide up-front or advance fees for various taxes, attorney fees, transaction fees or bribes;
• Other forms of 4-1-9 schemes include: c.o.d. of goods or services, real estate ventures, purchases of crude oil at reduced prices, beneficiary of a will, recipient of an award and paper currency conversion.

If you have already lost funds in pursuit of the above described scheme, please contact your local Secret Service field office.

Nigerian Advance Fee Fraud Overview

The perpetrators of Advance Fee Fraud (AFF), known internationally as "4-1-9" fraud after the section of the Nigerian penal code which addresses fraud schemes, are often very creative and innovative.

Unfortunately, there is a perception that no one is prone to enter into such an obviously suspicious relationship. However, a large number of victims are enticed into believing they have been singled out from the masses to share in multi-million dollar windfall profits for doing absolutely nothing. It is also a misconception that the victim's bank account is requested so the culprit can plunder it -- this is not the primary reason for the account request -- merely a signal they have hooked another victim.
• In almost every case there is a sense of urgency;
• The victim is enticed to travel to Nigeria or a border country;
• There are many forged official looking documents;
• Most of the correspondence is handled by fax or through the mail;
• Blank letterheads and invoices are requested from the victim along with the banking particulars;
• Any number of Nigerian fees are requested for processing the transaction with each fee purported to be the last required;
• The confidential nature of the transaction is emphasized;
• There are usually claims of strong ties to Nigerian officials;
• A Nigerian residing in the U.S., London or other foreign venue may claim to be a clearing house bank for the Central Bank of Nigeria;
• Offices in legitimate government buildings appear to have been used by impostors posing as the real occupants or officials.

The most common forms of these fraudulent business proposals fall into seven main categories:
• Disbursement of money from wills
• Contract fraud (C.O.D. of goods or services)
• Purchase of real estate
• Conversion of hard currency
• Transfer of funds from over invoiced contracts
• Sale of crude oil at below market prices

The most prevalent and successful cases of Advance Fee Fraud is the fund transfer scam. In this scheme, a company or individual will typically receive an unsolicited letter by mail from a Nigerian claiming to be a senior civil servant. In the letter, the Nigerian will inform the recipient that he is seeking a reputable foreign company or individual into whose account he can deposit funds ranging from $10-$60 million that the Nigerian government overpaid on some procurement contract.

The criminals obtain the names of potential victims from a variety of sources including trade journals, professional directories, newspapers, and commercial libraries. They do not target a single company, but rather send out mailings en masse. The sender declares that he is a senior civil servant in one of the Nigerian Ministries, usually the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). The letters refer to investigations of previous contracts awarded by prior regimes alleging that many contracts were over invoiced. Rather than return the money to the government, they desire to transfer the money to a foreign account. The sums to be transferred average between $10,000,000 to $60,000,000 and the recipient is usually offered a commission up to 30 percent for assisting in the transfer.

Initially, the intended victim is instructed to provide company letterheads and pro forma invoicing that will be used to show completion of the contract. One of the reasons is to use the victim's letterhead to forge letters of recommendation to other victim companies and to seek out a travel visa from the American Embassy in Lagos. The victim is told that the completed contracts will be submitted for approval to the Central Bank of Nigeria. Upon approval, the funds will be remitted to an account supplied by the intended victim.

The goal of the criminal is to delude the target into thinking that he is being drawn into a very lucrative, albeit questionable, arrangement. The intended victim must be reassured and confident of the potential success of the deal. He will become the primary supporter of the scheme and willingly contribute a large amount of money when the deal is threatened. The term "when" is used because the con-within-the-con is the scheme will be threatened in order to persuade the victim to provide a large sum of money to save the venture.

The letter, while appearing transparent and even ridiculous to most, unfortunately is growing in its effectiveness. It sets the stage and is the opening round of a two-layered scheme or scheme within a scheme. The fraudster will eventually reach someone who, while skeptical, desperately wants the deal to be genuine.

Victims are almost always requested to travel to Nigeria or a border country to complete a transaction. Individuals are often told that a visa will not be necessary to enter the country. The Nigerian con artists may then bribe airport officials to pass the victims through Immigration and Customs. Because it is a serious offense in Nigeria to enter without a valid visa, the victim's illegal entry may be used by the fraudsters as leverage to coerce the victims into releasing funds. Violence and threats of physical harm may be employed to further pressure victims. In June of 1995, an American was murdered in Lagos, Nigeria, while pursuing a 4-1-9 scam, and numerous other foreign nationals have been reported as missing.

Victims are often convinced of the authenticity of Advance Fee Fraud schemes by the forged or false documents bearing apparently official Nigerian government letterhead, seals, as well as false letters of credit, payment schedules and bank drafts. The fraudster may establish the credibility of his contacts, and thereby his influence, by arranging a meeting between the victim and "government officials" in real or fake government offices.

In the next stage some alleged problem concerning the "inside man" will suddenly arise. An official will demand an up-front bribe or an unforeseen tax or fee to the Nigerian government will have to be paid before the money can be transferred. These can include licensing fees, registration fees, and various forms of taxes and attorney fees. Normally each fee paid is described as the very last fee required. Invariably, oversights and errors in the deal are discovered by the Nigerians, necessitating additional payments and allowing the scheme to be stretched out over many months.

Several reasons have been submitted why Nigerian Advance Fee Fraud has undergone a dramatic increase in recent years. The explanations are as diverse as the types of schemes. The Nigerian Government blames the growing problem on mass unemployment, extended family systems, a get rich quick syndrome, and, especially, the greed of foreigners.

Indications are that Advance Fee Fraud grosses hundreds of millions of dollars annually and the losses are continuing to escalate. In all likelihood, there are victims who do not report their losses to authorities due to either fear or embarrassment.
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