DON'T FALL FOR ADVANCE FEE FRAUD



What is advance fee fraud?

Advance fee frauds play on their victims' greed. Typically, the fraudster offers the victim a chance to make a substantial fortune. The only snag is that there is a (relatively) small initial cost. Of course, that cost is real and the big payoff is an illusion. Examples include:
  • Transfer of funds from an ‘over-invoiced’ contract.
  • Assistance escaping the country.
  • Help accessing forgotten, former regime or deposed dictator’s funds.
  • Money laundering.
  • Money for chemicals to ‘clean’ marked currency.
  • Fraudsters pretending that you have won a lottery.
  • Gifts or bequests to charities.
  • Making you ring a premium phone line in the hope of winning a prize.
Some of these frauds evolve into very elaborate stings as victims get deeper and deeper into the setup. Some victims’ true stories sound more like movie thrillers.

Risks

  • Losing substantial amounts of money.
  • Expensive phone calls.
  • Being persuaded to give criminals your bank details which are used toempty your bank account or to support cheque fraud activity.
  • Arrest, convictionand possible imprisonment if you become part of a larger fraud.
  • Some victims have been drawn into these scams so far that they have travelled to Africa to collect their loot only to find themselves victims of kidnap or extortion.
  • A number of victims have been murdered or committed suicide.

How to recognise advance fee frauds

  • Typically, very large sums of money are tantalisingly dangled as a carrot so mistrust your greed.
  • As ever, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
  • Many of these scams involve former dictators and Swiss bank accounts so these are good indicators.
  • Don’t let conmen trick you.
  • Seemingly plausible (but often unverifiable) details like names and dates or elaborate technical descriptions.
  • Often the initial contact includes a phone number or a request for your bank details (on the pretence that they are going to wire you some money but in reality so that they can rob your bank account).
  • They may be addressed to the ‘CEO’, ‘Managing Director’ or other title rather than a named individual.
  • Messages may be marked ‘urgent’ or ‘confidential’.
  • Spelling mistakes are common and may be included deliberately to make you feel superior or sympathetic.
  • Many of these frauds originate from West Africa and they are often known as 419 scams after a section of the Nigerian legal code. However, they are growing in popularity around the world.

How to protect yourself

  • Stop and think.
  • Never pay anything up front.
  • Don't get involved in correspondence with fraudsters.
  • If you get involved in a scam, don’t let embarrassment prevent you from going to the police.
  • Guard your bank details carefully.
  • Check any wildly-implausible offers online.

Best-Buy-Sell.com is the industry innovator in online comparison shopping service. The company's mission is to enable shoppers to quickly and easily find compare and buy anything, sold by virtually anyone, anywhere. Each month, we connect millions of consumers with thousands of stores. People use Best-Buy-Sell.com to quickly obtain free and unbiased information before making a wise decision. Through continued innovation and consistent focus on providing the best comparison guide experience on the Internet, our site has established itself as the most trusted and effective online destination for people who want to buy online.
We help you!!! When five stores are selling the same thing for nearly the same price, it helps to have some extra guidance. To prevent any unwanted surprises, best-buy-sell.com provides the information you need to make solid shopping decisions. You'll find each store's policies for returns, security, shipping, and tax. With ratings on overall performance, delivery speed, and customer service, you'll also learn what other shoppers think about the stores you're considering.
Save Time and Money!!! Are you fed up with browsing the Net for hours in an attempt to find the right deal for you? Then optimise your time and start comparing online stores on best-buy-sell.com!