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The Nigerian letter fraud is actually two types of fraud taking place at the same time. The first fraud is where the person impersonates a high official in Nigeria. The other fraud involves the advance fee scheme. [br][br]The scheme or fraud works by the schemer sending a letter to a list of people on a mialing list. The letter is sent from Nigeria and promises the receptient the chance to share in a percentage of a million dollars or more, in exchange for helping get the money transferred from a bank in Nigeria to another bank. This is an illegal transaction. But the unsuspecting person falls fro it, considering the person sending it seems to be a high government official, and the amount of money is too good to pass up. [br][br]The receptient is requested to send the sender his bank account information and any other identifying information, by fax as stated in the letter. In some cases, all that is required is a return email. In some of these schemes, the receptient is required to send money by way of installments to the schemer. [br][br]Many times the letter will give details like the payment of taxes, bribes to government officials, and payment of legal fees. The catch is all expenses incurred is promised to be reimbursed to the recepient. [br][br]The problem with the scheme is the million dollars does not exist. The receptient, if he/she acts on what the schemer wishes, will lose money in the end. Plus, the schemer now has the receptients bank account information, so the schemer can now impersonate the victim and rob him of all his money from his bank account. [br][br]Sometimes this fraud is also known as the "419 fraud" because the scheme violates section 419 of the Nigerian criminal code. [br]

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