It has more lives than a cat and appears under many names, but it’s always the same crooked scheme and almost always involves Nigeria. It can come as a telephone call, a letter, or recently as an e-mail. It is a fraud that promises the unsuspecting consumer great wealth, usually millions of dollars. But it will only steal your money.

This scam usually claims to involve a bank or business that needs to shelter assets in the USA. You are asked to provide your bank account information so a large deposit can be made and you are promised a handsome reward in return. What happens, however, is that your bank account is emptied.

The Nigeria scheme has recently changed its format and is being received in e-mails throughout Maine. The latest e-mail goes like this (typos, misspellings, grammar mistakes, and all):

“Dear SIR, I am a Branch Manager with STANDARD TRUST BANK(STB), My name is Mr james odafe, a Banker. I am the personal Account Manager to the ENGINEER, a National of your country, my client who used to work with shell Development company in Nigeria.

“On April 21, 2000 my client, his wife, and their three children were involved in a car accident along Sagamu express way. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended Relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.

“After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they Get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits were lodged, where the deceased had an account Valued at about ($15 million u s dollars). I must provide the next of kin. Or have the account confiscated within the next ten official working days.

“Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased so that this account valued at $15 million US dollars can be paid to you and then you and me Can share the money.60% to me and 40% to you.”

The e-mail is “signed” by a “Mr James Odafe.” For fun, COMBAT responded to Mr. Odafe, asking for the name of the deceased “ENGINEER.” We were totally surprised to receive the following reply (the bad grammar and spelling again is Mr Odafe’s).

“Hello COMBAT, This is a very important question but the name does not really matters it is all about you been a foriegner and a white man so please for us to have a way forward i will urge you to avail me with your phone and fax number so as for easy commication and more it is a lawyer that will stand for you hear from the bank and i have brief him about everythig so you need not be worry about anything look forward hearing from you.”

Obviously COMBAT will not respond to this ridiculous scam. Most people would not. Unfortunately, many, especially older or logic-impaired people who are easily confused, have fallen for this scheme. Since older Americans are going online in increasing numbers, we suggest that you monitor or alert friends or relatives whose thinking is not clear before they fall for this scam. If you or anyone you know has responded to this “offer,” please notify COMBAT’s Maine Center for the Public Interest at the address below.

Consumer Forum is a collaboration of the Bangor Daily News and Northeast COMBAT/The Maine Center for the Public Interest, Maine’s membership-funded nonprofit consumer organization. For help or to request individual or business membership information write: Consumer Forum, Bangor Daily News, PO Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329.