The operation of the scam is highly unpredictable and often misleading. But usually, the operation would centre on the usual statements and involve the same intricacies. At first, the investors are contacted, typically with an offer like "A rich person from the needy country needs to discreetly move money abroad, would it be possible to use your account?” The sums involved are usually in the millions of dollars, and the investor is promised a large percentage as reward.

Proposed Deal

The proposed deal is often presented as a harmless in order to put off participants from contacting the authorities at a later point of time. The operation is professionally organized in Nigeria, with offices, working fax numbers, and often contacts at government offices. The investor who attempts to research the background of the offer will usually find that all pieces fit perfectly together.If they then agree to the deal, the scammer will send several documents bearing official government stamps; seals etc., and then introduce delays, such as "in order to transmit the money, we need to bribe a bank official. Could you help us with a loan?" or "In order for you to be allowed to be a party to the transaction, you need to have holdings at a Nigerian bank of $100,000 or more" or similar of that kind.

Psychological Pressure

Sometimes psychological pressure is added by claiming all the possible justifications. Sometimes, victims are invited to Nigeria and are asked to meet real or fake government officials. Some victims that travel are instead held for ransom. In some cases they are smuggled into the country without a visa and then threatened into giving up more money, as the penalties for being in Nigeria without a visa are especially severe. In the most extreme cases the victim is even murdered after he hands over the money or any other transactions.In any case, the promised money transfer never happens. What they actually claim does not exist. The country involved is not always Nigeria. Ghana, South Africa and other West African states are sometimes seen. Occasionally the scam operates from a non-African country such as the Netherlands (Amsterdam), the United Kingdom (London), Spain (Madrid) or Canada (Toronto) but this tendency is on the rise.

Operation Eagle Claw nets 18 Nigerian scammers

The anti-corruption agency of Nigeria, popularly known as "The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission" or EFCC, has details of coordinating with Microsoft, the software massive, to bust scammers in a plan named "Operation Eagle Claw."

So far "Operation Eagle Claw" has arrested members of 18 syndicates and 800 scam websites blackout. The achievement was exposed by chairman of the anti-scam force Mrs Farida Waziri speaking in Las Vegas.

What To Do If You Receive A Nigerian Scam/419 Letter

NEVER replay to the 419 Letters. Inform your Nation's National Law Enforcement Agency. Notify Nation's Foreign Office. File a Complaint with the Nigerian Embassy or High Commission in your country. Send a complaint via email with theCentral Bank of Nigeria. For Loss cases only, you might file a complaint with the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). If the contact from the 419 scam was via email: write their email provider at their "abuse" address ([email protected], [email protected] etc.) and take account of the 419 scam message with its headers; complain about the 419 letters; and ask that the account be blackout.

Canada Government Instructions for scam 419

• Regional Offices of the RCMP Commercial Crime Branch are the right places to direct investigation. The phone/fax numbers of the nearby CCB office are available from any local detachment of the RCMP/GRC.
• The Phonebusters National Call Centre (PNCC) is a joint partnership relating the Ontario Provincial Police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
• Phonebustersis very involved in receiving copies of any 'new' versions of Nigerian letter schemes mostly those involving Canadian mailing addresses or telephone numbers. You can email such 419 letters to them at [email protected]

South Africa Government Instructions for scam 419

• Fax all papers related to the scam 419 to the Commercial Branch, South African Police Service, Head Office for notice Superintendent SC Schambriel at number +27 12 339 1202, telephone number + 27 12 339 1203 or e-mail [email protected]. Please mention whether or not you have sustained any financial loss.
• The South African Police Servicemaintains a 419 Scams/Nigerian Letters Alert on south African website.

United Kingdom Government Instructions for scam 419

• For those in the UK with NO financial loss, examples of Internet '419' Advance Fee Fraud should be forwarded to your local fraud squad for inquiry, whose location is available through your local police station. Please quote 'NCIS West African Organised Crime Section' in your mail with them and under no conditions respond to these criminals.
• If you have lost money and there is a UK association to the 419 operation, the NCIS needs to speak directly with you as soon as possible. Persons who Have really lost money to such scams can contact NCIS at : [email protected] or by phone at 020 7238 8012.
• NCIS also observations that 419 emails are very regular and it is likely that you may receive others in the future. Please do not send them direct to NCIS unless there is a loss, but as well as broadcasting them direct to your local fraud squad, please send a copy to the Internet Service Provider (ISP's) from where the 419 email has send. These emails to the ISP's should be addressed to: abuse@"the ISP's name" (for example [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]).

United States Government Instructions for scam 419

• The United States Secret Service persists to be tasked as the primary US law enforcement agency in dealing with Advance Fee Fraud (419) matters. US Citizens or Residents with No Financial Lossare asked to email 419 related papers to the United States Secret Service at [email protected]
• United States Citizens and Residents who HAVE lost a Financial Lossare instructed to contact the nearest Office of the United States Secret Service.

Books related to Scam Operations

	Title:The Truth About Avoiding Scams Author:Steve Weisman Tags:Scam419, Avoiding Scams, Emails Release Date: 2008-01-28 Description: The truth about recognizing today’s newest scams--online and off The truth about safeguarding your money, health, and reputation The truth about phishing, vishing, pharming, slamming, and more
	Title:50 Ways to Protect Your Identity and Your Credit: Everything You Need to Know About Identity Theft, Credit Cards, Credit Repair, and Credit Reports Author:Steve Weisman Tags: Identity Theft, Credit Cards, Credit Repair, and Credit Reports Release Date: January 2005 Description: Identity theft and bad credit–two of the most feared byproducts of the information age, and subjects about which few really understand. Weisman offers reassurance in the form of 50 steps that will guard against both of these modern perils. The points of vulnerability are familiar by now: social-security number, credit cards, computer spyware. Weisman addresses each of these weak spots in turn, and lays out the measures required for effective defense.
	Title:Scam-Proof Your Life: 377 Smart Ways to Protect You & Your Family from Ripoffs, Bogus Deals & Other Consumer Headaches (AARP) Author:Sid Kirchheimer Tags: Scam-Alert, Scam-Proof, Protect yourself from scam Release Date: March 1, 2007 Description: The "Scam-Alert" columnist from the AARP newsletter, Kirchheimer has authored or edited 12-plus Ralph Nader-like salvos aimed at taking out consumer-directed fraud. Kirchheimer interviewed "nearly 100 reformed scammers" for this compendium of recent bilking schemes and corner-cuttings. His advice covers most major mid-life expenses, from buying a new car to buying a home to paying for college to booking a cruise.