FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 25, 1999

MADISON, WI -- U.S. Senator Russ Feingold, Secret Service Agent Ringan Doty, and Randall Hoth, President of Better Business Bureau Serving Wisconsin were in Madison today to raise public awareness regarding the consumer scam known as advance fee fraud (AFF), a series of fraudulent letters that originate in Nigeria and have targeted Wisconsin consumers and businesses.

"As we head into the new millennium, people are increasingly brought closer together by the rapid development of modern communications and transportation. Unfortunately, our shrinking world and advanced technology also present new opportunities for criminal activity, some of which reach from across the ocean into neighborhoods right here in Wisconsin," said Feingold. "We are here once again to alert Wisconsinites to a particular scheme that originates from Nigeria and has already cost Americans millions of dollars."

AFF solicitations typically arrive by fax or mail in the form of a letter. The letter purports to be from a Nigerian company or government agency and often promises a multi-million dollar windfall, but first requires payment of legal or other fees, thus the name "advance fee fraud."

"We do know recently there have been businesses in Wisconsin who have fallen victim to these scams and lost substantial amounts of money, and that is just reported losses," said Ringan Doty, Resident Agent in Charge of the Milwaukee Secret Service office. "It's a serious problem and Wisconsinites need to be on the alert." The U.S. Secret Service, an agency of the Department of the Treasury, is supervising a multi-agency task force investigating the fraudulent schemes.

Feingold also reminded constituents that part of his Senate web page is devoted to the problem of Advance Fee Fraud and contains a direct link to the Secret Service.

Feingold, the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on African Affairs of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has long been concerned about the political and economic situation in Nigeria, particularly its record of serious human rights abuses and massive corruption in the public and private sector. With the new democratically-elected civilian government in Nigeria, Feingold hopes the U.S. will be able to work more cooperatively with Nigerian law enforcement on this and other criminal matters.

Constituents who receive suspicious correspondence are encouraged to forward it to the Feingold office:

U.S. Senator Russ Feingold
8383 Greenway Blvd.
Middleton, WI 53562
Phone: 608-828-1200
Fax: 608-282-1203

U.S. Secret Service. The Secret Service has established a task force to investigate AFF consumer scam complaints and would like to hear from you.