# [ADVANCE FEE FRAUD]{.underline}

# 

Advance fee fraud is introduced in several ways. The connection between
the various types of Advance Fee fraud is the demand for advance fees or
payments before the promised transaction. The fee requested usually
comes in the form of:

-   **Legal Fee**

-   **ECOWAS Fee**

-   **Drug Clearance Fee**

-   **Value Added Tax (VAT)**

-   **Audit Fee**

-   **National Economic Recovery Fund**

-   **Terrorist Certificate**

-   **Transfer Fee**

-   **Processing Fee**

-   **Licensing Fee**

-   **Registration Fee**

-   **Communications Fees**

-   **Storage Fee**

-   **Release Fee**

-   **Legal Fee**

-   **Transaction Fee**

-   **Insurance Fees**

-   **Bribe; Gift To Government Officials, Demurrage, Etc.**

**[TYPES OF ADVANCE FEE FRAUD SCAMS]{.underline}**

In all of the fraud types listed below, the intended victim is
eventually asked to pay a fee before a business transaction or transfer
of money.

**CONTRACT SCAM**

Someone alleged to be the head of a government agency (i.e. Central bank
of Nigeria, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Debt Management
Office, Nigerian Mining Corporation, Ministry of Finance, etc.) that has
over-invoiced contracts and needs assistance from a foreign partner to
move the money out of Nigeria.

### WILL SCAM {#will-scam .unnumbered}

1.  Deceased religious leader or philanthropist who has bequeathed
    his/her wealth to a Church or individual.

2.  Bank accounts abandoned by wealthy foreign businessmen who died in
    accidental circumstances. The need for someone to pose as the
    relative of the deceased and claim the money.

3.  Families (widows, sons, brothers) of former West African Presidents,
    politicians and Military Generals looking for help to transfer money
    bequeathed to them.

### SECURITY DEPOSIT SCAM {#security-deposit-scam .unnumbered}

Stolen assets (cash, gold, diamonds) deposited in a security company
that needs to be transferred out of the country immediately.

### DONATION SCAM {#donation-scam .unnumbered}

Donations offered to charitable or religious organizations. The
beneficiary will need the service of the donor's attorney to claim
his/her money.

### BLACK MONEY SCAM {#black-money-scam .unnumbered}

Black money scam, known in Nigeria as "wash wash," is almost as popular
as advance fee fraud "419". The victim is usually enticed with a
business proposal or other type of temptation before the introduction of
the black money business. Once the scam artist successfully persuades
the victim, he is then shown a bag or suitcase full of black paper, cut
to USD size and arranged in bundles. Each bundle has a genuine one
hundred-dollar bill at each end that are temporarily masked or defaced
with a black waxy material or iodine. The victim is made to believe that
the entire bag contains bundles of genuine one hundred-dollar bills that
are temporary masked and need to be cleansed. The scam artist asks for
money to purchase an expensive chemical-cleaning agent to restore the
money.

### CREDIT CARD & COUNTERFEIT CHECKS {#credit-card-counterfeit-checks .unnumbered}

Often con men will attempt to obtain the confidence of the victim by
ordering goods from Europe, Asia and America and paying with genuine
checks. Naturally, the seller receives an order and is cautious enough
to wait for the check to clear before shipping the goods. The checks,
usually not more than U.S \$10,000 clears successfully from the bank.
The company then believes that these new customers are trustworthy
persons doing genuine business in Nigeria. Shortly afterwards, the
scammers send another request for shipment of goods worth U.S.
\$100,000, and pays in check or credit card. The company, having done
business with the buyer in the past without a hitch, sends the goods
immediately to encourage the existing business relationship. After the
goods are sent, it is discovered this payment was made with counterfeit
checks or stolen credit cards.

Scammers often contact people advertising items for sale on the
Internet. The scam artists agree to purchase the item and then send a
check for much more than the agreed price. The seller deposits the check
and asks their bank to let them know when it has cleared. The bank
informs the seller the check has cleared his bank so the seller forwards
the overage cash via Western Union.

Then the seller's bank contacts him again telling him that the bank the
check was written on has contacted them and told them the check is
counterfeit. If you have shipped items, you are out of your goods and
money.

### THE NIGERIAN HOT JOBS SCAM {#the-nigerian-hot-jobs-scam .unnumbered}

There is a new trend in the ever-growing Advance Fee Fraud Scams called
"the Nigerian Hot Jobs scam." It is a new type of Advance Fee fraud,
where a vacancy advertisement is sent on the Internet via email or
posted on a fake website. The scam artists also pull resumes from
websites where job hunters post their resumes. The offer is for a
lucrative job, usually in the Nigerian oil industry. The job offer
promises between \$15,000 to \$65,000 per month and extensive vacation
time. In addition, the employee will be provided with living
accommodations and a car. If the victim were to apply for this lucrative
job, he/she is lured to pay some fees and taxation. Needless to say
after the victim has paid these fees, he/she will soon realize that hot
jobs are not available in Nigeria.

**WHAT YOU SHOULD DO**

If your staff or client receives what appears to be an attempt at
Advance Fee Fraud, they should not give out any personal information or
money. See the advisory information at:
[www.treas.gov/usss/alert419.shtml]{.underline}

If your client believes they may be a victim of Advance Fee Fraud and
may have lost money, please contact the United States Secret Service
Field Office closest to you. Field Office contact information is listed
in your local phone book's blue or government pages. For a complete
listing of field offices worldwide go to:
[WWW.secretservice.gov]{.underline}

If your client is not a victim but would like to report receipt of a
suspicious email or letter:

Forward email messages to: [419.fcd@usss.treas.gov]{.underline}

Fax or mail letters to:

950 H Street N.W.

Suite 5300

Washington D.C. 20223

Fax: (202) 406-6930