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This
version of the Nigerian Fraud Letter is not really new, nor is it as
common as the traditional scam letters, but indications are it may
be growing in popularity.
These usually tend to he pretty much single-dip operations, where
the targeted church or charity is contacted and informed that
a wealthy Nigerian has passed away leaving his entire multi-million
dollar estate to the victim entity to fund its worthy
endeavors. This large fortune, the victim is told, will be
available as soon as proof of identify or some other document is
received.
Once this requirement is complied with, the victim entity is advised
that everything is in order and the funds are ready to be
transferred--as soon as a spurious Nigerian tax or transfer fee is
paid.
In other cases prospective individual victims have been selected by
religion and slightly altered versions of the classic Nigerian Fraud
Letter are sent to practitioners of this religion. The
Nigerian scam artists profess to be members of this same religion
and claim they and their families are regularly persecuted because
of the beliefs they share with the intended victims.
These fraudsters go on to claim they have access to millions of
dollars (from an inheritance, a business deal, a over-invoiced
project, funds stolen from a past corrupt government regime, etc.)
which they want to move out of the country so the money can be used
to further the goals of the church and fund humanitarian
works. As a side benefit a relatively large sum--a few million
dollars--will also be gifted directly to the victim in appreciation
of his or her assistance with this project, this offer claims.
Except for the charitable or religious twists, these are all
traditional advance fee scams.
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