419 Scams
We are providing this information about past financial scams as a precaution to our members. Some members who use our Trading Post have reported unusual financial offers for the purchase of their Trading Post items. The way in which these offers were made seems very suspicious. The examples at the bottom of this page have been provided to give you a sense of how these scams are initiated.
Please be alert for these variations of the so-called Nigerian or 419 scams. Use your best judgement and be cautious in dealing with any unusual offers. We recommend you do not respond to these communications or engage in any transaction that seems the least bit suspicious.
In addition to the samples below, you may learn more about Nigeria-based scams from the United States Postal Service web site.
Example 1: The purchaser offers to pay more than the price listed in the ad to cover shipping to a foreign country (i.e. Nigeria, Panama, United Kingdom.) They request that the excess funds be sent back via Western Union or other wire transfer method. The hope of the scammer is that the seller will quickly wire the "excess" funds, however, the original payment turns out to be counterfeit, leaving the seller with a large deficiency balance.
Example 2: This example was reported by a Fairwinds member on 8/19/04:
Sir, REQUEST ASSISTANCE/PARTNERSHIP. I am the Secretary of a contract award and review committee of the Petroleum Trust Fund {PTF}. I am mandated by team of colleagues to contact you. A contract already executed by a foreign firm in Africa in 2002 was over invoiced by us to the tune of $15,600,000.00 (Fifteen million six hundred thousand United states dollars). In the light of the above, I ask for your assistance in the transfer of this excess floating fund in a suspence account into a foreign account you may wish to provide, for it was a category "A" contract, (strictly reserved for foreign contractors) this informed my request, and also that I am forbidden by my government to run any foreign account. After the sucessful transfer, 30% of the total sum will go to you for your assistance. 10% of the total sum will be set aside to compensate for any incidental expenses incured by both parties. More details will be given in the course of correspondence. I EXPECT YOUR REPLY IMMEDIATELY. TO THIS E-MAIL Your confidentiality is highly required since I am still in active service . Thank you for your anticipated co-operation.
Example 3: This example was reported by a Fairwinds member on 2/28/05:
I am very happy to hear from you that the unit is still for sale also and i have arrange for the pick up of the unit from your location,because am located in excess uk ,the reason why am sending you a cashier check is that i have a client who owe me the sum of $4000 and he has promised to pay me the money through a cashier check and am sending you this amount of $4000 + shipping charges so immedaitely you receive the payment and clears in your bank , i will like you to deduct your asking price $1,265 and send the remaining $2735 to the shipping company so they can come for the pick up ,so i will like you to send me your full name and address in which the payment can be issued on your name and can be send out to your location thanks and i will be lookoing forward to hear from you asap regards nelkon.
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