Sid's advice (via the FBI) about the Nigerian letter scams is well worth absorbing, particularly the part about not replying under any circumstances.
I made the mistake of emailing one of these fraudsters back suggesting how he might like to spend some time with himself and also where and in what manner he might like to insert his "opportunity". Since then, I've been inundated with similar scams. Either I'm now regarded as someone who at least responds to these unsolicited emails or the sender liked the suggestions I made to him and wants me to talk dirty some more...
Cheers, Bruce
> From: Sid_Smith@baxter.com
> Subject: [CR]Section 419 scams... no classic content
> >From the FBI website:
>
> http://www.fbi.gov/
>
>
> What is a Nigerian Letter or "419" Fraud?
>
> Nigerian letter frauds combine the threat of impersonation
> fraud with a variation of an advance fee scheme in which a
> letter, mailed from Nigeria, offers the recipient the
> "opportunity" to share in a percentage of millions of dollars
> that the author, a self-proclaimed government official, is
> trying to transfer illegally out of Nigeria. The recipient is
> encouraged to send information to the author, such as blank
> letterhead stationary, bank name and account numbers and other
> identifying information using a facsimile number provided in
> the letter. Some of these letters have also been received via
> E-mail through the Internet. The scheme relies on convincing a
> willing victim, who has demonstrated a "propensity for larceny"
> by responding to the invitation, to send money to the author of
> the letter in Nigeria in several installments of increasing
> amounts for a variety of reasons.
>
>
> Payment of taxes, bribes to government officials, and legal
> fees are often described in great detail with the promise that
> all expenses will be reimbursed as soon as the funds are
> spirited out of Nigeria. In actuality, the millions of dollars
> do not exist and the victim eventually ends up with nothing but
> loss. Once the victim stops sending money, the perpetrators
> have been known to use the personal information and checks that
> they received to impersonate the victim, draining bank accounts
> and credit card balances until the victim's assets are taken in
> their entirety. While such an invitation impresses most
> law-abiding citizens as a laughable hoax, millions of dollars
> in losses are caused by these schemes annually. Some victims
> have been lured to Nigeria, where they have been imprisoned
> against their will, in addition to losing large sums of money.
> The Nigerian government is not sympathetic to victims of these
> schemes, since the victim actually conspires to remove funds
> from Nigeria in a manner that is contrary to Nigerian law. The
> schemes themselves violate section 419 of the Nigerian criminal
> code, hence the label "419 fraud."
>
>
> Some Tips to Avoid Nigerian Letter or "419" Fraud:
> If you receive a letter from Nigeria asking you to send
> personal or banking information, do not reply in any
> manner. Send the letter to the U.S. Secret Service or the
> FBI.
> If you know someone who is corresponding in one of these
> schemes, encourage that person to contact the FBI or the
> U.S. Secret Service as soon as possible.
> Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as
> Nigerian or foreign government officials asking for your
> help in placing large sums of money in overseas bank
> accounts.
> Do not believe the promise of large sums of money for your
> cooperation.
> Guard your account information carefully.
> DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, MEET WITH THESE PEOPLE AT
> ANY TIME OR PLACE, ESPECIALLY DO NOT LEAVE THE U.S.
>
>
>
>
> Sorry to rain in your living room Dale, but we've got to get the message
> out.
>
> End of public service announcement, we return you to your regularly
> scheduled programming.
>
> Sid Smith
> Lake Forest, IL