Internet and e-mail scams

On a frequent basis, the Embassy receives information from members of the public who have received e-mails from lotteries based in the Netherlands offering huge amounts of cash money. The prize can only be handed over if the lucky winner (the addressee) has transferred a certain amount of money as deposit.

In the same category, people receive e-mails from Nigeria in which they are asked to intermediate with regard to transfers of considerable amounts of money. Huge sums of cash are being offered as a reward if assistance is being given. In these cases as well, a certain amount of money has to be deposited at an overseas account.

It is clear that these are scams and the Embassy wishes to caution members of the public not to react on any e-mails of this nature.

More information can be retrieved from the following websites:

www.secretservice.gov/financial_crimes.html

www.419fraud.com

www.africaservice.com/fraud/index.html (section "What is 419")