African Development Foundation Advisory on Money-Transfer Scams

Numerous individuals worldwide have been victimized by money-transfer scams and other forms of fraud initiated by persons purporting to represent wealthy foreign individuals or organizations. These scams – which are often initiated through unsolicited faxes, letters, and e-mails – can expose individuals to serious financial losses and grave personal danger.

In line with warnings issued by the United States State Department, the African Development Foundation (ADF) strongly advises individuals against disclosing personal or financial information to unknown persons or entities.

Scam perpetrators often pose as current or former high-ranking officials of government agencies or international organizations. Some scams also involve forged stationery, signatures, and seals.

All unsolicited business proposals should be rigorously scrutinized, but recognizable business scams tend to involve:

Invitations to participate in illegal money transfers in exchange for a sizable commission – which is offered as a reward for the message recipient’s promise of confidentiality;

Requests for personal bank account information;

Requests for signed and stamped letterhead/invoices;

Requests for urgent air shipments, accompanied by an unknown or unverified instrument of payment;

Requests for advance payment in U.S. dollars of estate taxes, transfer taxes or incorporation fees; and

Statements that the message recipient’s name was provided to the soliciting party either by someone the recipient does not know or by an undisclosed “reliable contact.”

ADF does not engage in any of these practices, and individuals who have received questionable business or donation solicitations from persons claiming to represent ADF should immediately contact the Foundation by calling 202.673.3916.