A scam originating in Nigeria and other African countries is making the e-mail rounds in the area, no doubt hitting your Inbox and that of your friends. This Nigerian Advance Fee Fraud, also known as "OPERATION 4-1-9," has been a long-running one and is now venturing into cyberspace. You may find information on the origins of this scam in a Public Awareness Advisory on the following sites: Secret Service | FBI | Nigerian Fraudwatch Nigeria - The 419 Coalition Website | Sites Fighting the Scam Some people, wanting to show they had caught on to the scam, have sent smart-alecky responses to this type of letter. NEVER respond! Instead, please follow the advice from the FBI: "1. If you receive a letter from Nigeria asking you to send personal or banking information, do not reply in any manner. Send the letter to the U.S.Secret Service or the FBI.   "2. If you know someone who is corresponding in one of these schemes, encourage that person to contact the FBI or the U.S. Secret Service as soon as possible." Secret Service (click here for email info) 1750 Elm Street Manchester, NH 03104 603-626-5631 Secret Service Field Offices Federal Bureau of Investigation One Center Plaza - Suite 600 Boston, Massachusetts 02108 617.742.5533 FBI Field Offices You may also read about the FBI 's Congressional Statement for the Record, on July 15, 1998, on Combating International African Crime. To read two scam letter samples, please click here. U.S. Secret Service information concerning forwarding addresses of those e-mails: All information related to 419 Frauds can be forwarded to Secret Service Headquarters via the following: email: 419.fcd@usss.treas.gov Fax: 202/ 406-6930 *** If you have already fallen victim to this scam AND lost money, please contact your nearest Secret Service Field Office. That number can be found by calling your local information number or can usually be found on the inside cover of your local phone book. DO NOT RESPOND TO THAT FAX OR E-MAIL....We are NOT looking for individuals to attempt to string them along for us. Pass this information on to whomever you know. Citizens in the U.S. alone lose over $100 Million dollars a year to this type of fraud!! Thanks in advance. Electronic Crimes Branch Financial Crimes Division United States Secret Service Nigerian scam continues to thrive A good MSNBC article showing how the scammers are updating their spiel to take advantage of the Iraq situation. Don't miss the various links to other "4-1-9" information in this MSNBC article. (Mar. 5, 2003) Nigerian Net Scam, Version 3.0 A new twist to the e-mail letter scam: buy online and get scammed! Read the Wired.com article here. (Dec. 26, 2002) Snopes.com will set you straight Lot's of really good information on this Snopes.com page about the Nigerian fraud. If you ever want to check out the validity of chain letter information, this is the site. Enter a keyword from the chain letter in the search function. You'll get your answer: 99.9% of the time, chain letters are hoaxes. Hancock Police Department | Home Page