Advanced Fee Fraud (Nigerian Letter)

This Topic Includes:
Avoid responding to letters
Report a "Nigerian letter"
 

What is the "Nigerian letter" scam?

The Nigerian letter scam, as it is commonly called, is an advanced fee type of fraud. It is sent unsolicited by mail, fax, or most commonly by email, in the form of a letter. Although letters come from around the world, the most common varieties relate to funds held in or taken from West African nations such as Nigeria.

The letter explains that the writer needs to access a foreign bank account that can be used to transfer money through. The amount of money usually mentioned is upwards of US$10 million. All that's needed are details of your bank account and a few blank pages of letterhead if you're a company. In return you are offered an opportunity to share in the millions. Many refer to political events or major disasters, which is often how the writer came to have access to such funds.

The letter is allegedly written by a Prince, a top officer from a company or a quasi government corporation in an African state (the most common is Nigeria) or is from a family member of a senior person from the government or military.

Some common variants of advanced fee fraud

Estate funds

A person has died leaving a large estate which the writer has information on but needs your assistance to access.  The writer may ask for you to stand in as a next of kin. It is common with this variant that the "deceased" may carry the same surname as you. 

Estate funds - victim of airline crash

This is a version of the estate funds scam, but refers specifically to a victim of an airline crash. Note, the airline crash might be true but the name or nationality of the victim is likely to be false. A recent example referred to a New Zealand victim of an EgyptAir crash but no-one of New Zealand nationality perished on that flight.

Offering to buy goods and services

The correspondence will relate to a specific request to purchase a type of goods or service sold by the company who receive the unsolicited request.  Common goods requested are computer hardware or software, computer consumables, although other goods or services may be ordered.  The letter, fax or email will not be in an order format that would be familiar to those running a business.  If a business responds they are likely to be asked for funds in advance, or asked to purchase goods from New Zealand with their own funds that the correspondent cannot source in their country. 

Avoid responding to these letters

If you do respond you will be asked to pay a processing fee of tens of thousands of US dollars before the "funds" can be lodged in your account. That's the last you will see of your money, or the promised share of $30 million.

We also do not recommend responding in jest. Responding merely confirms that your email account is active, and may mean you will continue to received such solicitations.

Report it!

Remember to check whether it is already listed before making a report. If you have received an Advanced Fee Fraud or Nigerian Letter type scam you can report it via the Scamwatch site.