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FTC toll free hotline: 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357) FTC online complaint form (www.ftc.gov)
IVORY COAST FRAUD as of
BRIEF EXPLANATION: The victim receives an unsolicited letter or fax from a West African country (Usually Ivory Coast, or Ghana). The author of the letter claims to be a relative, or an associate of a prominent political figure in a war torn country, often Sierra Leone. He will ask the victim's assistance to help him transfer a large sum of cash (10 to 30 Million US Dollars) which he has allegedly taken from his homeland before fleeing his country. He constructs a scenario where he is in a desperate situation, where he requires urgent assistance.
He may request the victim to fly to his country [DON'T DO IT!!!] to discuss the matter in person, or to receive a transfer of funds into the victim's bank account. If the victim sends him the requested information, the scammer will proceed as if he is transfering the funds from a legitimate bank. He may use bank managers to substantiate the scenario. The victim may receive bank transfer slips, letters on bank stationery (from real banks), which indicate that he has transferred the alleged funds.
If the victim pays the fees (which will run into 10s of thousands of dollars), further "problems" will arise, which require additional payments. This will continue until the victim either quits, or runs out of money, or both. We included our scammers' names, fax and phone numbers on our web site under:
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