What do West African letter / 419 frauds offer?
West African letter frauds, also known as 419 frauds, involve
asking you to help with transferring money out of another
country - such as Iraq, South Africa or somewhere in
west Africa - in return for a percentage of the money you
helped to transfer.
How do West African letter / 419 frauds work?
You receive an email, letter, fax or phone call
from a fraudster claiming to be someone in a position of
authority. For example: a senior government employee, the
finance officer of a company, a royal household member or a
lawyer.
The fraudster says they have access to a substantial
amount of money and explains where this
money is supposed to have come from. For example: from
over-charging a customer on a business contract. They say they want
to move the money out of the country, then give you a reason why
they can’t transfer it themselves. For example: they can’t open an
overseas bank account.
The fraudsters will also explain why you have been chosen to
take part in this venture. For example: a mutual acquaintance has
recommended you for the role.
They ask your permission to pay the money into your
account before they transfer it onwards after deducting
your reward. The fraudsters may even ask you to open a new bank
account to transfer the money.
They will also emphasise the need for secrecy,
warning you not to tell anyone else about the deal while hurrying
you into a hasty decision by stressing the need for urgent
action.
To add an element of legitimacy to the fraud, the
fraudsters may arrange to meet you, normally outside the
UK.
There is no money to transfer.
If you respond to the fraudsters’ request, they will ask you to
pay various fees that are
supposed to release the money. For example: legal fees, transaction
fees or taxes.
When you pay the first fee,
the fraudsters will keep coming back with further requests
for additional fees, explaining that each one has cropped
up as a last-minute obstacle to releasing the money.
If you start getting reluctant to pay or suggest you can’t
afford it, the fraudsters will put pressure on you
by explaining how close you are to receiving a sum of money far
bigger than the fees you have been asked to pay out and reminding
you how much you have already sent them.
The fraudsters may also ask you for details of your bank
account so that they can transfer your reward. They will
use this information to try and empty your account.
How can I recognise a West African / 419 letter fraud?
- The amount of money involved and the
percentage you are offered will be
extremely large.
- Someone you have never met who says they trust
you with such a large sum of money is up to no good.
- Governments and large corporations do not transfer
money through another person’s bank
account. Any suggestion that they do so is a reliable
indication that you have been approached by fraudsters.
- Letters and documents sent by fraudsters are
usually badly written. Look out for spelling
mistakes and poor grammar.
What should I do?
- End all further contact with
the fraudsters.
- Do not send them any more money.
- If you have given the fraudsters your bank account details,
contact your bank immediately. If you have not
already done so, do not give the fraudsters
your account details.
- If the fraudsters threaten you once you stop co-operating with
them, tell the police immediately.
- Be aware that you will probably be targeted for other
frauds. Fraudsters frequently pass on the details of
people they have successfully targeted to other fraudsters.
Alternatively, they approach the victim under different names to
commit further frauds.
- One fraud that is often aimed at people who have already lost
money to fraudsters is the fraud
recovery fraud. Here, fraudsters contact victims
pretending to be law enforcement specialists or lawyers. They
reassure the victim that they can help to recover their lost
money - but also ask them for a fee.