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Public warned against ‘Nigerian scam’
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Posted on Apr 05 2000
Acting Attorney General Herbert D. Soll warned yesterday that operators of the so-called “Nigerian Scam” are again active in the Commonwealth, this time through fax solicitations.
At least one person on Saipan received a fax, supposedly from a high ranking official in the Department of Petroleum Resources in Nigeria, soliciting the receiver’s assistance in laundering several million dollars in “excess contract payments” the sender supposedly has access to in the “Petroleum Trust Fund” in Nigeria. The sender requires the recipient to divulge a bank account number, after which the account would be cleaned out in some manner.
This scam scam can take several other forms, Mr. Soll said. Sometimes it originates with a letter to the potential victim promising large sums of money for doing “favors” for the sender. These “favors” will, at some time, require the use of the victim’s bank account, either to “hold” the money or for some other purpose, and the victim will have to disclose the bank account number to the sender of the letter.
Another form is a request for assistance in spiriting large amounts of “bonus” money out of the country that was supposedly paid to high-ranking military officers in the Nigerian military government. In all of these scams, upon receipt of the bank account number, the scammer then develops a ruse to clean out the victim’s bank account, added the acting AG.
Many of these letters have originated in Nigeria, hence, the name “Nigerian Scam.” It is reported that some victims have even been invited to Nigeria, where they have been kidnapped upon arrival and held for ransom. Some have reportedly disappeared.
Mr. Soll is reminding the public that there is never any reason for any legitimate business transaction to require the bank account of a complete stranger. If a bank account is needed to “hold” money or otherwise, the parties to the transaction can open one.
He also advised the public not to give their bank account numbers or credit card numbers.
Those seeking further information may contact David Lochabay, consumer counsel, at the Attorney General’s Office.
