Nigerian scam. Listen carefully, I know of a man who lost 40 grand US to this scam, and yes, he told me personally:

1. You get a letter by fax from someone in Nigeria stating, basically, that they have ripped off their government for many millions. Money stolen from government schemes, usually. 2. You are offered a percentage, 10% usually, if you will help them get the money out of Nigeria though the use of your bank account. 3. Here the scam varies. One variation simply asks you to send money as a kind of processing fee for bribes. You pay, and good-bye money. 40 grand US in this case. 4. Another variation asks you to provide letterhead, signitures and your bank account number in order to provide credibility or to use to funnel funds, or whatever. Good bye everything in that account. 5. Other variations have you go to Nigeria. You are held at gunpoint until you ransome yourself.

I have personally received about three of these letters or faxes. The Mounties have been in the papers about it. What I can't understand is how anyone can fall for so transparent and obvious a scam -- "I have just cheated my government and now I want you to trust me." Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered, I'm afraid.