What is Nigerian 419 Advance Fee Fraud?
• Nigerian 419 Advance Fee Fraud broadly follows the following steps. • 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, and recipient of an award and paper currency conversion.
