HOW TO AVOID SCAMS

Here is an example of a Nigerian Scam.

​First the contact companies that sell products and ask for a quote. If the contact is made on a B2B portal, they often provide their email right away. And in 99% of the cases they use a free email, even if they claims to represent a company". If you send them a quote, the next step goes like this:

They contact you again, with a standardized reply but insert your name and your product. They also claims that they have buyers for your product and that you are free to make a bid to compete for the buyers. But there is a little hatch, they need a 1% fee of the total deal. Below an e-mail I recently received that show their modus operandi:

"Dear XXX, We are pleased to reach and get in contact with your company. We are an approved sourcing agent with four (4) years experience in the field of sourcing and trading agency. During our routine research and sourcing, we have discovered that your company products is a good match with the required items of the FEDERAL MINISRTY OF LABOUR AND PRODUCTIVITY NIGERIA (FMLPNG), for they have publicly release a tender/bid for capable foreign manufacturers/ suppliers of XXX. If you are interested in bidding, your company is required to send us quote, offer or price list information of XXX. Please find below is the Ministry business terms and condition FOB Price Payment Term: 70% Advance, Balance of 30% Before Shipment. Port of Discharge: Tin-Can Sea Port, Apapa Lagos State, Nigeria I am in good relationship with a senior staff in the office of the FEDERAL MINISRTY OF LABOUR AND PRODUCTIVITY NIGERIA (FMLPNG),who can instruct and direct possible business ideas to get success during the bidding process. Moreover, as a sourcing and commission agent, you will not forget to approve 1% commission of the total contract fund in my favor, ONLY if your company win the contract and full contract payment received. Kindly acknowledge the content of our mail with a reply stating your company capabilities, competency and business willingness in bidding. For further information visit the ministry website at www.fmlp-ng.orghttp://www.fmlp-ng.org Many Thanks. Yours faithfully Mr.Philip Uchechukwu/Director Brighterlight Nigeria Limited E-mail:[email protected] 80 Abebe Road, Aba, Abia State, Nigeria Tel: +234 80139745808"

Clearly that email is a scam but scammers get better and better so be careful with clicking on links in emails and when doing business with companies, especially Nigerian "companies".