Nigerian Inheritance/Contract Payment Advance Fraud

How Nigerian Inheritance/Contract Payment Advance Fraud Works

Overview: This longstanding international scam has resurfaced in India with a localised twist. Fraudsters contact Indian victims claiming they have inherited a large sum from a distant Nigerian relative, or are owed millions under an over-invoiced government contract. To claim the windfall, victims must pay various upfront 'legal,' 'clearance,' or 'tax' fees. This scam can drain lakhs over weeks, appealing to those lured by big rewards with little effort, including older adults and businesspeople. How It Works: Initially, you may receive an official-looking email or WhatsApp message from someone claiming to be an EFCC officer, lawyer, or government agent. The message claims you’re the beneficiary of a vast fortune (e.g., $10 million) or exist as a named partner in a contract payment. To unlock the funds, multiple rounds of fees begin — starting with a small 'processing' fee, followed by larger charges for legal, tax, or customs hurdles. Each payment only leads to requests for additional money, supposedly to smooth the final transfer. Scammers reference real EFCC updates online to bolster belief. Phone calls or VoIP chats are sometimes staged to mimic official EFCC verification. India Angle: These scams have pivoted to target Indians via Gmail, WhatsApp, and Facebook, leveraging Indian payment mechanisms like UPI and even hawala for the transaction of "fees." The fraud targets middle-class business owners, retired professionals, and older adults in cities and smaller towns. States with strong diaspora ties in Africa (e.g., Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat) see elevated risk. Real Examples: An individual in Kerala received a formal WhatsApp from 'Barrister Obinna, EFCC Legal,' promising a $14M inheritance upon payment of ₹1.5 lakh 'customs fee.' Another Indian businessman got a Facebook message and subsequent call from 'EFCC clearing house,' with official-sounding PDF attachments, but all phone numbers checked traced to VoIP services. Red Flags: Lofty financial rewards out of nowhere, pressure for secrecy, repeated requests for increasing types of fees, and instruction to use non-traceable means (crypto, hawala, gift cards) all mark this scam. References to real EFCC cases are meant to seem genuine but can be Googled. Protective Measures: Instantly disregard any unverified messages promising improbable inheritances or payments. Never send personal ID, banking, or Aadhaar details to unknown entities. Never pay fees or participate in such 'deals,' no matter the promised returns. If Victimised: Save all communications for investigation. File an immediate complaint on cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930. Inform your bank of the fraud; if hawala or gift cards were used, give as much detail as possible. Share your experience to warn peers. Related Scams: Other common scams include fake foreign lottery wins/lucky draws requiring advance fees, and WhatsApp 'UK or Dubai gold trader' scams which need tax payment for shipment.

Visual Intelligence:

BharatSecure's AI has identified this as a used in scams targeting Indian users.

Who Does Nigerian Inheritance/Contract Payment Advance Fraud Target?

General public across India

Red Flags — How to Identify Nigerian Inheritance/Contract Payment Advance Fraud

• Offers of inheritance or contract payouts from unknown sources
• Requests for multiple rounds of upfront fees (legal, tax, bribes)
• Pressure to keep your 'win' a secret
• Fake legal letters or EFCC court orders sent over email/WhatsApp
• No verifiable Nigerian government or EFCC contact numbers

What To Do If You Encounter Nigerian Inheritance/Contract Payment Advance Fraud

1. Do not click any links or share personal information
2. Block and report the sender immediately
3. Report at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930
4. Inform your bank if financial details were shared

How to Report Nigerian Inheritance/Contract Payment Advance Fraud in India

• Call 1930 — National Cyber Crime Helpline (24x7)
• File a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in
• Contact your bank immediately if money was lost
• Call RBI helpline: 14440 for banking fraud

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Nigerian Inheritance/Contract Payment Advance Fraud?

Overview: This longstanding international scam has resurfaced in India with a localised twist. Fraudsters contact Indian victims claiming they have inherited a large sum from a distant Nigerian relative, or are owed millions under an over-invoiced government contract. To claim the windfall, victims must pay various upfront 'legal,' 'clearance,' or 'tax' fees. This scam can drain lakhs over weeks, appealing to those lured by big rewards with little effort, including older adults and businesspeopl

How does Nigerian Inheritance/Contract Payment Advance Fraud work?

Overview: This longstanding international scam has resurfaced in India with a localised twist. Fraudsters contact Indian victims claiming they have inherited a large sum from a distant Nigerian relative, or are owed millions under an over-invoiced government contract. To claim the windfall, victims must pay various upfront 'legal,' 'clearance,' or 'tax' fees. This scam can drain lakhs over weeks,

How to protect yourself from Nigerian Inheritance/Contract Payment Advance Fraud?

Do not click any links or share personal information Block and report the sender immediately Report at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930 Inform your bank if financial details were shared

How to report Nigerian Inheritance/Contract Payment Advance Fraud in India?

Report to cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930 (National Cyber Crime Helpline). You can also contact your local police station's cyber cell.

Verify Any Suspicious Message

Check any suspicious message, link, or call for free at bharatsecure.app. BharatSecure uses AI to detect scams in real-time and protect Indian users.