Rip-off artists exploit land reform

NAMIBIA is the latest country to become embroiled in the so-called ‘419-scam’ or ‘Nigerian advance fee fraud’.

According to South African news reports, fraudsters are now impersonating white Namibian farmers who are allegedly “fleeing their farms and want to hide their money abroad”. The scam, which has been on the go for almost 20 years, has previously not fraudulently used Namibians to try and solicit money from businesses abroad.But recent reports on Namibian land redistribution – and the resultant international news coverage – seem to have enticed fraudsters to pursue this line.The ‘419’ refers to the case number of FBI (United States Federal Bureau of Investigation) files dealing with advance fee fraud.The scam typically involves a formal letter stating that a certain former politician or, in this case, ousted farmer, has a huge amount of United States dollars which need to be deposited into an account abroad.The victim is solicited to open a bank account for the safe-keeping of the funds, for which he or she will receive a percentage of the money.Close to the deposit date stipulated, the victim is then asked to pay an amount into the fraudsters account to cover “transfer costs” – hence the “advance fee” connotation.This “advance fee” usually amounts to N$15 000 or more.In more sophisticated cases, victims are invited to visit the country from where the mail originated – Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Sierra Leone have been used – and to meet prominent politicians and business people.In some cases victims have been kidnapped and a ransom demanded.According to the South African police, scams of this nature are now also operated by Nigerians living in the suburbs of Johannesburg.In a recent development, the ANC’s Tony Yengeni’s name was used to solicit victims.One of the letters states: “I got your contact through the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry.I am the brother to Mr Tony Yengeni.My brother has, as a result of trust and confidence, mandated that I search for a reliable and trustworthy foreign partner, who will help receive some funds, which we have in cash totalling US$25,5 million into a personal, company or any reliable foreign bank account for safekeeping for a short period of time, since our family bank accounts within and outside the country have all been frozen by the authorities.”Yengeni does not have brother named Fred.Since the scam is not operated from Namibia, it is difficult for local Police to investigate and people are urged not to respond to such solicitations but to forward them to the Police or Interpol.The ‘419-scam’ is listed among the top five of all time, owing to the amount of money being lost.The scam, which has been on the go for almost 20 years, has previously not fraudulently used Namibians to try and solicit money from businesses abroad.But recent reports on Namibian land redistribution – and the resultant international news coverage – seem to have enticed fraudsters to pursue this line.The ‘419’ refers to the case number of FBI (United States Federal Bureau of Investigation) files dealing with advance fee fraud.The scam typically involves a formal letter stating that a certain former politician or, in this case, ousted farmer, has a huge amount of United States dollars which need to be deposited into an account abroad.The victim is solicited to open a bank account for the safe-keeping of the funds, for which he or she will receive a percentage of the money.Close to the deposit date stipulated, the victim is then asked to pay an amount into the fraudsters account to cover “transfer costs” – hence the “advance fee” connotation.This “advance fee” usually amounts to N$15 000 or more.In more sophisticated cases, victims are invited to visit the country from where the mail originated – Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Sierra Leone have been used – and to meet prominent politicians and business people.In some cases victims have been kidnapped and a ransom demanded.According to the South African police, scams of this nature are now also operated by Nigerians living in the suburbs of Johannesburg.In a recent development, the ANC’s Tony Yengeni’s name was used to solicit victims.One of the letters states: “I got your contact through the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry.I am the brother to Mr Tony Yengeni.My brother has, as a result of trust and confidence, mandated that I search for a reliable and trustworthy foreign partner, who will help receive some funds, which we have in cash totalling US$25,5 million into a personal, company or any reliable foreign bank account for safekeeping for a short period of time, since our family bank accounts within and outside the country have all been frozen by the authorities.”Yengeni does not have brother named Fred.Since the scam is not operated from Namibia, it is difficult for local Police to investigate and people are urged not to respond to such solicitations but to forward them to the Police or Interpol.The ‘419-scam’ is listed among the top five of all time, owing to the amount of money being lost.