Beware of Scam Letters and Emails!


Throughout Canada and the United States, many people once again are receiving "request for urgent business transaction" letters, faxes and emails, usually involving the transfer of millions of dollars. The Wichita Police Department warns citizens to be on the lookout for these scams.

The scam begins with the sender stressing the urgency and confidentiality of the transaction. The sender also stresses the importance of trust and honesty in order to make the reader believe that the communication is valid.

Typically, after receiving a letter the consumer responds either by phone, fax, or email asking further information on the requirements and procedure for the transaction. Once contact is established, the suspect then will normally ask for an upfront “processing fee”. Most letters come with a breakdown of the percentage of money each party involved will receive once the transaction is completed. The sender then is usually requested to send the processing fee. No money is ever rewarded and the scam artist walks away with the victim’s processing fee.

These letters are commonly referred to as Nigerian Letter Scams or West African Fraud Letters. Beware! These letters are all a scam.

The bottom line is this: If you receive any letter that requires you to send a “processing fee”, it is a SCAM!