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The public is advised to be wary of conmen involved in the infamous 'African scams', commonly termed "419" fraud (named after the relevant section of the Nigerian Criminal Code). The scams involve a number of schemes, all designed to dupe victims into parting with their money. The conmen typically send letters through the postal mail, facsimile or the Internet, claiming to have acquired or inherited large sums of money, sometimes purporting it to be unclaimed fortunes of dead deposed dictators, tycoons or simply excess government or bank funds. In a new twist, the conmen claim to be officers or auditors of local or regional banks and claim to have discovered unclaimed or dormant funds in the bank.
They seek the victim's help to supply a foreign bank account number to be used to transfer the 'funds' out of Africa. The victim is promised a huge commission in return. These offers are bogus and the victims are often duped into paying large sums in up-front payments, purportedly as taxes or fees in order to transfer the 'funds'.
Another ruse used by the conmen is to dupe the victims into believing that blackened US currency notes smuggled out of Africa can be 'washed' and used after treatment by 'special chemicals'. The victims are usually offered large sums of the US currency notes at a huge discount. The catch is that the currency notes are painted black to avoid detection and can only be washed by using 'special chemicals'. The conmen also sometimes conduct demonstrations to 'wash' the notes with the 'special chemicals'. The victims are then duped into paying huge up-front payments purportedly for the purchase of the 'special chemicals'.
If you receive a "419" letter or e-mail, do not reply. Be wary when offered such get rich-quick-offers that promise exorbitant returns. Those who receive such offers or wish to pass on the letter to the police, please click here.
Remember: "If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is!"
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| Last updated on 18 May 2007 |
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