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Answer: This scam is old and easy to see through, yet apparently it keeps working. The Federal Trade Commission has addressed it at a Web site set up to protect consumers from scams and fraud: www.ftc.gov/ftc/ consumer.htm

Here's how it works: Claiming to be Nigerian officials, con artists offer to transfer millions of dollars into your bank account in exchange for a small fee. If you respond to the initial "offer," you may receive official-looking documents. Typically, you are then asked to provide a blank letterhead and bank account numbers, as well as some money to cover transaction and transfer costs and attorney's fees.

You may even be encouraged to travel to Nigeria or a border country to complete the fictitious transaction. Sometimes, the scamsters will depict trunks of dyed or stamped money to verify their claims. Inevitably, emergencies come up, requiring more of your money and delaying the transfer of the promised fortune. In the end, there are no profits — only losses — and the scam artist vanishes along with your money.