Nigerian letter frauds combine the threat of impersonation fraud with a variation of an advance scheme in which a letter mailed, or e-mailed, from Nigeria offers the recipient the“ opportunity” to sh a percentage of millions of dollars that the author— proclaimed government official— is trying to transf illegally out of Nigeria. The recipient is encouraged send information to the author, such as blank letter stationery, bank name and account numbers, and ot identifying information using a fax number given i letter or return e-mail address provided in the mess The scheme relies on convincing a willing victim, w has demonstrated a“ propensity for larceny” by responding to the invitation, to send money to the a of the letter in Nigeria in several installments of increasing amounts for a variety of reasons.