Watch out for letters, emails or fax messages asking for your help to transfer a substantial amount of money, usually many millions of pounds, out of the sender’s country.

The bulk of these mailings are from Nigeria but an increasing number are now coming from South Africa and other parts of the world. What they have in common is that the fraudsters require you to send money (an 'advance fee') to 'finance the transfer'.

It is sometimes known as the '419' fraud as this refers to the Nigerian Government department tasked with tackling the problem.

Typically the letters are headed "urgent business proposal" and "in strictest confidence" and suggest that if you allow the sender to use your bank account to transfer money into, then you will receive a percentage.

However, if you do respond, you will simply be asked for money to 'help the transfer along', and, if you then send money, you will be asked for more and more money until you finally realise that this is a scam, and the 'millions of pounds' do not exist.