Advance fee fraud, often also known as the Nigerian money transfer fraud, Nigerian scam or 419 scam after the relevant section of
the Nigerian Criminal Code that it violates, is a fraudulent scheme to extract money from investors living in relatively richer countries
in Europe, Australia, or North America.
This scam has been in existence through regular postal mail for more than 20 years,
and has been multiplied many times over since the advent of the Internet and e-mail. Literal hundreds of thousand of these letters
are sent world wide on a daily basis. Unfortunately may times these scams have proven to be successful.
How to identify a fraudulent letter.
The following characteristics are usually found in letters sent by Nigerian fraudsters. Postal Inspectors note that the stamps on
the letters are often counterfeit, as are any meter impressions or meter strips used, since postage meters arent used in Nigeria!
-The envelopes are white, brown, or white with a
red-and-blue border.
-The envelopes are often handwritten and have no
return
address.
-The envelopes are all about the same size: 9
inches long and 4 inches wide.
- Many envelopes are addressed to "president"
or
"CEO," rather than a specific name.
- The letters are typed and photocopied.
- The letters are usually marked "urgent" and
"confidential."
- The scheme is presented as a business proposal,
and the sender alleges to be an auditor or
accountant,
with the title of "doctor."
- The letter offers a commission of at least $10
million for assistance in transferring funds to
the
United States from Nigeria.
