THE NIGERIAN EMAIL SCAM

Also known as the 419 scam- because this is the code section in the Nigerian Criminal Code that makes this activity illegal. It’s reported that as many as one million of these scams are sent out every day. There are many variations of this scam, but the most common often starts out with you receiving an offer out of the blue to ‘help’ someone from another country transfer their money out of their country (e.g. Sierra Leone, Nigeria or Iraq). The subject line on these emails usually reads "From the desk of barrister [Name]", "Your assistance is needed", and so on.

The offer sets out a long and often sad story about why the money cannot be transferred by the scammer; Who often claims to be a government or bank employee, who knows of a large amount of unclaimed money or gold which he cannot access directly, usually because he has no right to it. This usually involves an inheritance or profits from natural resources that the scammer might say they are trying to protect from taxes or a corrupt government. Sometimes these letters express that your payment is for a bribe or for attorney fees, but they never go into a lot of detail as to the reason why.

Dear friend,Based on the further explicit investment information about your country from my research i wish to invest in your country under your supervision.I am Prince Fayed W. Bolkiah, the eldest son of Prince Jeffrey Bolkiah former finance minister of Brunei, the tiny oil-rich sultanate on the Gulf Island of Borneo. I save your time by not amplifying my extended royal family history, which has already been disseminated by the international media during the controversial dispute that erupted between my father and his tepbrother, the sultan of Brunei Sheik MudaHassanalBolkiah.As you may know from the international media,The sultan had accused my father of financial mismanagement and impropriety of us$14.8 billion dollars this was as a result of the Asian Financial crisis that made my father company Amedeo Development Company and government owned Brunei investment company to be declared bankrupt during his tenure in the office. However my father was kept under house arrest, his bank account and private properties including a crude oil export refinery were later confiscated by the sultanate to avoid further prosecution from the sultan and his security operatives, but before I could do that I was placed under house arrest by the sultan and not have access to phone but I have a palm V hand -held computer from which I am sending you this mail. Some of the guard here are still loyal to me, so they would be my contact with you if there is any documents I need to send to you to enable you have access to this funds and invest it for me. Before my in-castration, I went ahead to dispatch the sum of five undred million United States Dollars {USD$500,000,000.00} in cash under special arrangement into the custody of different private Banks and trust company's for safe keeping abroad. The money where splited and kept in the following countries, : in Canada, France, Spain, Holland andin London. Firstly, you will be required to travel to London to claim the money there before prceeding to other countries.I seek your good assistance to invest these funds into a profitable investment in your country to facilitate future survival for my family abroad. After due deliberation with my aids we decides to offer a certain percentage to you as compensation for your co-operation and kind sincerity to carry out this assignment.Since there will be an expenditure from your side, I will advice you not to worry about it because you will be reimburse any amount you may spend as to enable this transaction get to it's final dream, for both local and international expenses will be given to you back while you will be part of the beneficiary of any investment made with this cash, to add to that, I will like to let to your understand that all this is not part of your financial compensation that will be given to you. During this dispensation Please I count on your absolute confidentiality, transparency and trust while looking forward to your prompt reply towards a swift conclusion of this transaction. Many thanks and blessing remains with you.Finally, your financial compensation will be the 15% of the total cash. That is 15% of ( u.s $500,000,000.00 ).Thanks.Prince Fayed.W. Bolkiah.Please reply here: princefayed@todito.com - See more at: http://www.scamdex.com/419-011.php#sthash.rnasq3aS.dpuf

STRANDED TRAVELER SCAM:

Hello, How are you doing? hope all is well with you and family,i am sorry that i didn't inform you about my traveling to England for a Conference.I need your urgent help, I misplaced my wallet on my way to the hotel where my money and credit cards are kept. I urgently need a loan of $3,400 from you to sort-out my hotel bills and get myself back home. I will appreciate whatever you can afford and i'll pay you back as soon as i return. Please help send the money to me via Western Union Money Transfer with my details below Name : Address: Kindly help me to send it soon and let me know the reference numbers (MTCN) with the details of the transfer. Your help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Grandparents Scam The "grandparents scam" is one variation of the stranded traveler scam. Except this scam usually occurs over the phone (however, it can occur over email or text). The con artist usually calls and pretends to be a "grandchild" who is traveling abroad and says he or she has been mugged or arrested overseas and please send money. This scam usually sounds like this: “Hi Grandma, do you know who this is?” Grandma usually responds with someone’s name Then the fake grandchild will usually ask for money to solve some unexpected financial problem (overdue rent, payment for car repairs, etc.), to be paid via Western Union or MoneyGram, which don’t always require identification to collect. The fake grandchild then begs and pleads not to tell their parents for fear of punishment.

LOTTERY AND SWEEPSTAKES “If it looks too good to be true then it probably is”

“This is to inform you of the release of money winnings to you. Your email was randomly selected as the winner and therefore you have been approved for a lump sum payout of $500,000.00. To begin your lottery claim, please contact the processing company selected to process your winnings.” An initial fee ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 is often requested to initiate the process and additional fee requests follow after the process has begun.

FAKE CHECK SCAM This scam usually involves you selling something or having a reason for the scammer to send you a check. Then, as with most of these scams, something comes up at the last minute and the so-called buyer (or the buyer's "agent") comes up with a reason for writing the check for more than the purchase price, and asks you to wire back the difference after you deposit the check.

TECH SUPPORT SCAMS These scams usually start with the scammer calling you and claiming to be a computer tech associated with a well-known company like Microsoft. The scammer usually says that they’ve detected viruses or other malware on your computer and that they will either sell you some software you don’t need or worse direct you to download a virus or some other software so they can hack your computer remotely. This is always a trick. Be careful because a newer version of this scam has the scammers getting your name and other basic information from public directories and even has them guessing what computer software you’re using. They do this to try to sound more official. No one from Microsoft is going to call you and tell you that your computer has a virus. I have never know Microsoft to call anyone- it’s hard enough to get them on the phone if you call their helpline!

PHONEY FRAUD ALERTS These phoney fraud alert scams can be in the form of an email or a phone call claiming to be from your bank or financial institution (more recently I have seen letters that are mailed that actually look like it’s from a reputable company and then telling you to call a number and then they get you to give them your information).

EMAIL PHISHING SCAMS Example Subject: Your Yahoo Account Has Exceeded.. Dear Customer, Your E-mail account has exceeded its limit and needs to be verified, if not verified within 24 hours, we shall suspend your account. Click Here Thanks.

Dear account holder, This message is for users of Bellsouth.Net message center for Bellsouth.Netall account owners Webmail. We Currently, the improvement of our web / database and perform the maintenance of all our e-mail accounts in order to reduce the rate of spam emails. It is also the elimination of all Unused Bellsouth.Net E-mail account to create more space for new accounts. To ensure that your account is closed unnecessarily, it will have to updated with the following information then to know that this is a gift and is used in also facilitate the maintenance operation. Confirm your identity below email 1.Full E-mail........................ 2.password ......................... 3.Phone Number....................... 4. Your Number........................ 5.First Name ........................ Warning code: VX2G99AAJ Attention! Account holder who refuses to update your account within seven days of receiving this warning will lose your account permanently. Thank you for using Bellsouth.Net Webmail!

GEORGIA POWER SCAM These scams usually start out with the customer receiving a call that their account is late or past due and that because of this, their electricity will be cut off. Unless, the customer purchases a prepaid debit card and provides the caller (the scammer pretending to be Georgia Power) with the card’s account number. Georgia Power has released an official statement that this is the first sign that this call is a scam. “We don’t call our customers and ask them to make a payment,” Customers get a pre-recorded message on the primary number the utility has on file, asking them to contact the utility to discuss their account.

TIPS TO AVOID BEING SCAMMED If it’s too good to be true then it usually is- If you didn’t play the lottery then you didn’t win If someone wants money then investigate further If someone wants your personal information then investigate further If it sounds fishy then don’t do it. Follow up on your own. No Company is going to penalize you further for contacting them directly to make a payment.

If your concerned then end the conversation and find the number for the company on your own (one that you know is authentic) and then call them directly.If you want tech support, look for a company’s contact information on their software package or on your receipt.Never give your password on the phone. No legitimate organization calls you and asks for your password.Put your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry, and then report illegal sales calls.NEVER send money, or give credit card or online account details to anyone you do not know and trust.Do not open suspicious or unsolicited emails (spam): delete them

WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU ARE A VICTIM OR YOUR IDENTITY IS STOLENReport the crime- contact your local police, the FBI, and any other authorities that have units to investigate these scams.Your money is probably gone. But, maybe you can help someone else not to become a victimBecome knowledgeable on the subject and don’t fall victim to another scam. Once you become a scammers victim all the other scammers flock to you. If your identity is stolen or it’s an ongoing scam then contact your financial institutions and let them know what’s going on. Contact the fraud departments of any one of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and Transunion.

★ ABIDING AGGRESSIVE ATTORNEYS P.C. ANDREWS & SANDERS LAW OFFICE (912) 236-3020 www.DougAndrews.com www.AndrewsandSanders.com www.facebook.com/andrewsandsandersattorneys

THE NIGERIAN EMAIL SCAM