Case Description:
A few days ago, I met a buyer who asked about the prices of our products. After working out the prices, I replied to the inquiry. The buyer accepted the quoted prices and told me they would like to visit our company for further cooperation. They asked for an invitation letter so they could get the required business visa.
I sent an invitation letter and was surprised when the buyer said a company-issued invitation letter was not accepted in their country. The buyer asked for an invitation letter from my local government instead.
After spending a lot of time preparing documents for my local government offices in Shenzhen, I finally got an invitation letter issued by the Shenzhen government and sent it to my client. Once they received the invitation letter, they stopped replying to my emails.
Case Analysis:
Method
Some fraudsters use an export & import company to run illegal immigration rackets. The company will pretend to be buyers and ask to visit the supplier' factory to negotiate more business or inspect production facilities. For this, they will ask for an official invitation letter from the manufacturer. When they receive the invitation letter, it will then be used to apply for a visa for an illegal immigrant.
Avoid Fraud
1. If you have a new buyer, don' apply for an invitation letter from the government. Your company will be responsible for the actions of the buyer when they are in your country.
2. At the very least, confirm the company you are dealing with is genuine before submitting the application to your government. If buyers cannot provide a company website and registration certificate, there is probably something wrong.
3. Pay special attention to buyers from Nigeria, Togo and Benin. If your buyer is from one of these countries, please thoroughly check the credibility of the company. In addition, check the age and position of your buyers. Take care with very young or low ranking buyers.
Re: Fraud Case Study 17- Invitation Letter Fraud
by seongdo on 09 Nov 2008 23:59
Be aware of some scammers in Henan in China, A couple months ago, they tried 3~4 kinds of fraud on this 'Fraud Case Study' all together. Firstly, they made an order of 300 units of our machine and asked us to visit their company to sign face-to-face. After our president visited them and signed on the contract , they asked us to send them 0.1% of bank remittance first. Fortunately, we didn't send the money to them. And then they asked us to send us the invitation letter which must be notarized by the notarization office. But we gave it to them, and they stopped contacting us.
Re: Fraud Case Study 17- Invitation Letter Fraud
by Success Teller on 16 Nov 2008 18:03
KNW International Sialkot Pakistan
Just some days ago I receieved a inquiry form Benon Republic for a full container load of SAFETY EQUIPMENTS, The writer didn't mentioned, what type of safety equipments and also quoted that it is an order from Governamental institution and we will take just 1% commission after the amount is transfered to your account. Here I went into near past when an email came to me from the same country of an women saying that she is millioner's wife and all of her family died in a Plane Crash ( She also mentioned the link from CNN that varifies the plan Crash, but now she has suffered from cancer and want to spent her money for charity purposes and seeking a a NGO or an honest person who will be full authorised to use that money and money will be transfered to his account. Although I just know that it is a fraud but I want to know how this will be completed. So I replied the mail that I am agree for her help, now she transfered me to here Legal advisor and he sent me some documents for signatures, Then they asked me for 4000US$ as legal advisor's fee, here I got the fact that how they snatch money from the innocent people.So kindly please beaware of anything happening unsual, there are 99% chances to be a victom of the fraud. Posted by Ijaz Ansar Raja
Re: Fraud Case Study 17- Invitation Letter Fraud
by Success Teller on 16 Nov 2008 18:06
ijaz@knw-international.com
Just some days ago I receieved a inquiry form Benon Republic for a full container load of SAFETY EQUIPMENTS, The writer didn't mentioned, what type of safety equipments and also quoted that it is an order from Governamental institution and we will take just 1% commission after the amount is transfered to your account. Here I went into near past when an email came to me from the same country of an women saying that she is millioner's wife and all of her family died in a Plane Crash ( She also mentioned the link from CNN that varifies the plan Crash, but now she has suffered from cancer and want to spent her money for charity purposes and seeking a a NGO or an honest person who will be full authorised to use that money and money will be transfered to his account. Although I just know that it is a fraud but I want to know how this fraud will be completed. So I replied the mail that I am agree for her help, now she transfered me to here Legal advisor and he sent me somedocuments for signatures, I posted that back then his email I recieved that 4000 Us$ are needed to complete this process of money transfere as the fees of legal advisor, here I got the fact but remain in touch and said to him that the 4000US$ should be deducted from the account which is to be transfered in my name, he replied that now the account is not able to be used as it will when transfered to you. Then I offered him to have a share of 20% amount but he did not accepted and stoped replying and after one month again i got an email of HER that she is beaware of my problems but appriciate my struggles for the money and sending me a cheque of 10000 US$, which i may get from her Legal advisor and so this process they started again. These are the different methods the fraudulent use to thieve money from the innocent people, so kindly please beaware of anything happening unsual, there are 99% chances to be a victom of the fraud
Ijaz Ansar Raja
KNW International
Saialkot Pakistan
Ijaz@knw-international.com
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