E-MAIL FRAUD WARNING

The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands has received many questions about the legitimacy of certain solicitations received by post or email. These letters or emails hold out the promise of large sums of money or –more recently- job offers - in exchange for payment of advance fees. The letters and emails usually state that the financial or other transactions or offers have been initiated by companies registered in the Netherlands or other European countries.

The Embassy wishes to make it absolutely clear that, in all probability, such requests are fraudulent and are related to a well-known financial swindle which first appeared in West Africa in the 1980s. The swindle is now so widespread that national and international law enforcement authorities refer to it as "Nigerian bank fraud", "Nigerian advance fee fraud" and "West African fraud". Suggestions that a lottery has been won fall into a separate category although the method of operation is comparable.

If you suspect that you have been approached by someone involved in these practices, pay careful attention to the following advice: If an offer sounds too good to be true, it isn’t true! Ignore such letters or emails. Never provide personal information such as your name, address or bank account number. Never pay in advance!

If you are still uncertain about the solicitation after having read this information, you may contact the Embassy by telephone at 01-204663 ext 213. If, by chance, you have fallen victim to these fraudulent practices, we would like to warn you not to pay any more money. We would also appreciate your cooperation in our inquiries by providing us with a written account which includes the following data in the format below.

“ I, : your full name;
: date, place and country of birth;
: profession and nationality;
: full address and country;
: telephone and fax numbers and e-mail address.
hereby officially report a fraud / swindle to the Dutch judicial authorities”.
Please give a chronological survey of the case, including the following items:
How did the first contact with the suspect come about?
How were you approached?
Who approached you (please state full name, tel/fax. and e-mail address)?
What was the role/function of this person?
How did the suspect present the case to you?
Who else have you been in contact with, and what was the role/function of this person?

Please list your contacts with the suspect (date, time, by telephone, fax or e-mail)?
Did you meet one or more of the suspects in person?
Would you be able to recognize the persons you met?

Please state whether you made any payments, and if so, why you made them.
List the payments made, stating the amount, the date and the beneficiary, and the manner of payment (in cash, by money transfer or by payment into a bank account)
Please state the particulars of the bank, the account number and the name of the beneficiary.
Please state that your statement may be used against the suspects in legal proceedings, adding that you claim a refund from the suspects of the money you paid.
Finally, declare that your statement is the truth, and please remember to sign the statement.
Please include with your statement any documents you have received or sent, and any receipts you may have, and make reference to them in your statement.