Scam | Advanced Fee Letter Fraud (419 / Nigerian Letters). Throughout Canada and the United States letters concerning the request for an urgent business transaction, usually the transfer of millions of dollars, are being sent out to consumers and business' via mail, email and fax transmission. These letters are commonly referred to as Nigerian Letter Scams or West African Fraud Letters.
The scheme begins once a consumer receives a letter. Letters are sent by mail, fax transmission, and email, while email transmission being the preferred method of delivery for the letters. PhoneBusters have seen an increase in email delivery. In addition to stressing the urgency and confidentiality of a transaction, these letters will also stress the importance of trust and honesty in order to make the reader believe that there is a validity to the letter. For instance, the writers of these letters will commonly claim to be a Doctor and/or a corporate entity with a major corporation of Nigeria. There will also be some mention of government involvement.
Typically, after receiving a letter a consumer would respond either by phone, fax, or email. the response would be a request for further information on the requirements and procedure for the transaction. Once contact is established, the writer of the letter will normally ask for an upfront processing fee and in some cases arrange for a meeting to discuss the transfer of funds. Most letters come with a breakdown of the percentage of money each party involved will receive once the transaction is final.