Nigerian Advance Fee Fraud a.k.a. "4-1-9" fraud

If you haven't received an email similar to the two (2) I am about to show you, then rest assured that it may soon be coming to an inbox near you. Please be assured that the United States government is well aware of this fraud; however, that does not stop the scammers from continuing in their game. Especially since so many people are duped. Those who are duped are either hurting for money, in some kind of financial distress, desperate, or plainly naive. Note the following two (2) emails and please NEVER reply to something like them.

Hello,

I am Mr. Smith Bowani, an auditor of a reputable bank
in Johannesburg, Gauteng Province in the Republic of South Africa. I have an
urgent and very confidential business proposition for you.

We had a
foreign client named Mr. Wooin Shim, who deposited a huge sum of money (18.6
Million United States Dollars), with our bank. Eventually, this client died in a
plane crash and since his death we have not had anybody come up for the claims
as the next of kin.

You may want to take a look at other
passengers, who were on the same plane; here is a site for your
perusal.

A situation I have monitored closely with my position in the bank. Now having
monitored this deposit and managed it over the years before his death, and hence
nobody has showed up as the next of kin for the past years. I now solicit for
your assistance to present you as the next of kin as every other arrangement/
processes will be monitored by me and my partners involved. However I got your
contact from a trade consultant here in South Africa, though I did not disclose
the purpose of my seeking for a foreign business partner to him. Although we
will still have to sign some agreement before the final transfer of the fund
into any of your designated bank account.

I have involved a very
senior official in the operational department, and we have agreed that after the
transfer of the money into your account, you shall be entitled to 20% of the
total sum, my colleagues and I will have 75% while 5% will be used to reimburse
any expenses incurred. All necessary precautions have been taken to ensure a
risk free situation on the side of both parties. Please note that this deal can
only take place on the following conditions;

1. You will provide
the bank account and other relevant particulars/information for easy and onward
Remittance of the Eighteen million, six hundred thousand USD.

2.
Absolute confidentiality and sincerity will be required and guaranteed,
considering our positions in the bank.

3. Assurance that our own
share will be released to us in good faith when this money finally gets into
your account.

Please treat with utmost confidentiality. Contact me
as quickly as possible through my e-mail.

Expecting your urgent
response,

Best Regards,
MR. SMITH BOWANI

Notice how they want everything to be completely CONFIDENTIAL? Anything done in secret usually is not good. Here's another email:

From : Barrister. lambert Greaney

Kindest
Attention,

Firstly, not to cause you embarrassment, I am Barrister.
lambert Greaney,a Solicitor at law based in the United Kingdom and the personal
attorney to Late Mr. Michael Pierre a National of France, who used to be a
private contractor with the Halliburton in Saudi Arabia, herein after shall be
referred to as my client. On the 21st of April 2001, he and his wife with their
three children were involved in an auto crash; all occupants of the vehicle
unfortunately lost their lives.

Since then, I have made several
enquiries with his country's embassies to locate any of my clients extended
relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful
attempts, I decided to contact you with this business partnership proposal. I
have contacted you to assist in repatriating a huge amount of money left behind
by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Bank
where this huge deposit was lodged.

The deceased had a deposit
valued presently at GBP30million and the Bank has issued me a notice to provide
his next of kin or Beneficiary by Will otherwise have the account confiscated
within the next thirty official working days.

Since I have been
unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over three years now, I seek your
consent to present you as the next of kin / WillBeneficiary to the deceased so
that the proceeds of this account valued at GBP 30Million can be paid to you.
This will be disbursed or shared in these percentages, 60% to me, 30% to you and
10% to charity

I have all necessary legal documents that can be
used to Back up any claim will be obtained From the Court of England with the
Certificate Of Deposit which has been issued to me by the Bank. All I require is
your honest Co-operation, Confidentiality and Trust to enable us see this
project through.

I guarantee you that this will be executed under a
legitimate Arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. All the
relevant documents that will give you the legal backing to claim the fund will
be processed.

Please acknowledge receipt of this message by e-mail.
As I am based in the United Kingdom. And please provide me the following below;
this is to enable me commence immediate preparation of all legal document that
will back up our claim.

1. Full Name
2. Your Telephone Number
and Fax Number
3. Your Contact Address.

Your urgent response
will be highly anticipated and appreciated.

Best regards,
Barrister. lambert Greaney

The second email was not all about secrecy and confidentiality. But the same theme was inherent:

1. someone died,
2. money was left behind,
3. you were contacted to receive that money (or a portion thereof),
4. and now you must provide information to them to start the transaction process.

Whatever you do - don't fall for it. It's a line of B.S. that's been running for years. Replying to their emails only encourages them because they realize they're being noticed. And if they know they're noticed, they'll believe that someone will reply with what they want.

It's best to ignore them.

Here are services that can help you if you fall victim to this fraud or if you want to learn more about it in order to avoid it:
*Secret Service
*FBI
*FBI Press Release
*U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission
*U.S. Department of State - Travel info
*U.S. Department of State (requires adobe acrobat)
*Federal Trade Commission
*United States Postal Service
*Internet Fraud Complaint Center
*U.S. Department of Justice - Go to Page 40 (requires adobe acrobat)
*Royal Canadian Mounted Police
*British Columbia Financial Institutions Commission (requires adobe acrobat)
*The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
*Australian Institute of Criminology (requires adobe acrobat)
*BBC News release - Morris Ibekwe arrested
*ZDNET UK article 05/01/02 – six people arrested