Duke Police Issues Warning on Internet Fraud Schemes

Sellers should not exchange financial information or send money

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

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Durham, NC -- Duke Police are warning members of the Duke community not to be caught in 4-1-9 or advance fee fraud schemes. In addition, several users of the Trading Post have in past months have reported being contacted by people who attempt to induce Trading Post sellers to either give over financial information or get them to send money as part of the Trading Post transaction.

4-1-9 Schemes frequently use the following tactics:

  • An individual or company receives a letter or fax from an alleged "official" representing a foreign government or agency;
  • An offer is made to transfer millions of dollars in "over invoiced contract" funds into your personal bank account;
  • You are encouraged to travel overseas to complete the transaction;
  • You are requested to provide blank company letterhead forms, banking account information, telephone/fax numbers;
  • You receive numerous documents with official looking stamps, seals and logo testifying to the authenticity of the proposal;
  • Eventually you must provide up-front or advance fees for various taxes, attorney fees, transaction fees or bribes;

Other forms of 4-1-9 schemes include: c.o.d. of goods or services, real estate ventures, purchases of crude oil at reduced prices, beneficiary of a will, and recipient of an award and paper currency conversion.

Sellers using the Trading Post should take precaution about any request for bank information or for exchange of money in the selling of Trading Post items.  In addition, sellers should be aware of schemes in which foreign buyers send cashier's checks which later prove to be forgeries.

If you have already lost funds in pursuit of the above described scheme, please contact the U.S. Secret Service in Washington, D.C. at 202-406-5850 or by e-mail.

Selling Animals Over Internet 

Animal rights groups have warned that people raising "fighting" dogs sometimes purchase small animals online for use as bait in training the dogs.  Please be careful in selling animals under any conditions to ensure you are selling for appropriate use of the animals.