Мошенничество с предоплатой
Мошенничество с предоплатой включает классическую схему «нигерийского принца» (419). Жертве обещают крупную сумму, но она должна заплатить авансовые сборы, описанные как налоги, юридические расходы или комиссии за обработку. Выплата никогда не поступает.
Распространённые методы
- • Emails claiming you have been named as the beneficiary of a large inheritance from a distant relative or deceased stranger in another country
- • Fake loan approval letters from non-existent banks offering guaranteed loans regardless of credit score, requiring upfront "processing" or "insurance" fees
- • Business opportunity scams promising lucrative government contracts, exclusive distribution rights, or bulk purchase deals that require advance deposits
- • Fake grant notifications claiming you have been selected for a government or foundation grant and must pay a "disbursement fee" to receive the funds
- • Romance-flavored advance fee scams where an online contact claims to have a fortune they need to move out of their country and offers to share it in exchange for help with transfer fees
- • Escalation tactics where after each payment, a new unexpected obstacle arises (additional taxes, customs holdups, legal complications) requiring yet another fee
Как распознать
- You are promised a large sum of money from someone you have no real connection to
- You must pay money upfront to receive money — this fundamental contradiction is the hallmark of advance fee fraud
- The emails contain urgent language, secrecy requirements, and elaborate backstories involving political figures, deceased millionaires, or government officials
- Communication comes from free email addresses and the sender claims to be a lawyer, banker, or government official
- Each time you pay a fee, another obstacle and another fee appear — this cycle never ends because there is no real money to receive
- The promised amount is disproportionately large relative to the fees being asked, making the "investment" seem trivial by comparison
Как защитить себя
- Never pay money to receive money — this is the golden rule that defeats all advance fee scams
- Delete unsolicited emails about inheritances, grants, lottery winnings, or business opportunities from unknown senders
- Be especially cautious of any opportunity that requires secrecy or urgency
- Research any organization or individual making financial promises by searching their name along with the word "scam"
- Understand that legitimate loans do not require upfront fees paid directly to the lender — real processing costs are deducted from the loan disbursement
- Report advance fee scam emails to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov
Реальные примеры
In Nigeria, the classic "419" scam email claimed a government official needed help transferring $15 million out of the country and would share 30% — the victim only needed to pay $2,000 in legal fees to start the process, but fee after fee followed.
In the UK, a fake London-based law firm emailed victims claiming they were sole beneficiaries of a £3.2 million estate from a deceased relative, requiring £2,500 in "probate and solicitor fees" wired to a Barclays account — the firm and the estate were entirely fabricated.
In South Africa, a guaranteed loan scam targeted individuals via SMS, offering pre-approved loans of up to R500,000 regardless of credit score through a fake lender — applicants were required to pay an upfront "insurance fee" via EFT before the fictitious loan would be disbursed.
In India, scammers sent emails posing as officers of the Reserve Bank of India, claiming the recipient was entitled to a dormant account settlement of 50 lakh rupees — victims were asked to pay "processing fees" and "GST charges" via NEFT transfers across multiple rounds.
In the Philippines, scammers contacted overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) claiming they had won a PAGCOR-affiliated raffle and needed to pay "BIR taxes" via GCash before receiving millions in prize money — the scheme exploited the trust OFWs placed in familiar government agencies.
In Latin America, a scam circulated through WhatsApp across Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador offering fake Inter-American Development Bank grants — victims paid escalating "administrative fees" in local currencies via bank transfers, receiving convincing but forged documentation at each stage.