This scam requests the victim to allow them to use their bank account so a large sum of money may be deposited into. Initial contact with the victim is made by a mass produced email.

The money offered may be from a secret bank account, unexpected inheritance, overpaid Government contract or a "forgotten sum of money" left in a Nigerian bank.

In each instance, before the money is placed into the victims' bank account, a series of fees and charges are required to be paid before the money can be released. These charges include:

• Taxes
• Levies
• Legal fees
• Payments to corrupt officials
• Money transfer charges
• Payment to insure the funds transfer.
• Payment for an "anti-terrorist certificate" to verify the victim is not a terrorist.
  

Despite the victim making numerous payments to individuals in different countries, there are always delays which prevent the money being sent and require a further payment to be made.

A key ingredient of this scam is the victim is required to keep the money transfer secret.

This scam has been in existence in excess of 50 years and no person has ever received the money promised despite hundreds of thousands of individuals' worldwide taking up the Nigerians offer. View examples of documents used by the fraudsters to convince victims they are genuine.

Victims have historically been very reluctant to report their being defrauded in this manner to the Police as the ingredients of their actions constitute the offence of money laundering.