Advance Fee Scam

Also known as "419 Fraud" after its corresponding section of the Nigerian Criminal Code, the scam begins when you receive an unsolicited fax, email, or letter asking for your assistance concerning a business proposal in Nigeria or some other African nation. These proposals usually deal with "over invoiced contract funds" but may also include a bequest left to you in a will, a non-existent bank where there is money in your account, or a request for helping to clean money.

At some point, you are asked to pay an upfront advance fee, extend credit, or send back change on a cashier's check or money order. If you pay the fee, there are often "complications" which require still more payments until you either quit, or run out of money.  In recent months, this scam has begun to target sellers of items on Internet auction sites. An individual will contact you to inform you that they would like to purchase your item for more than what you are selling it for. When you receive their payment, usually in the form of a money order or cashier's check, you are to return the difference to the buyer. Ultimately the check or money order will turn out to be counterfeit.