I had actually planned a totally different topic for this week's column and if it seems as if I am somewhat obsessed with the subject of the Nigerian email fraud, I am.

The volume of these pleas is reaching epidemic proportions. I am receiving these letters every single day, from everywhere, not just Nigeria, 18 to date. Let me state unequivocally, they are all scams, fraud, and worst of all, life-threatening.

The United States Secret Service has a whole webpage devoted to these, warning against this type of fraud. Does that tell you how serious the problem is?

Regrettably, I have had several anonymous readers contact me to tell me that they are almost certain their friend, neighbour, etc., Bermudians all, are involved in these scams.

The message is the same. They appeal to your ethics but want you to commit a crime. You get the picture, the hook is millions and millions of dollars free to you, just for 'helping out'.

Consistent patterns. Here are some real excerpts, so that you can see for yourselves. The delivery has become increasingly sophisticated (not too many grammar errors ) with references to what appear to be authentic websites. Do you know how easy it is to set up a phony website these days?

The Letters are marked, urgent, private, confidential. In reality, they are sending out millions of these things, reckoning that even a one percent response is complete bonanza.

Their plight is horrendous, provoking sympathy or they are complete crooks. What follows is a sampling:

"Al-Mustapha is presently detained for charges of acute human right violations, and embezzlement of publc fund, he has asked me to transfer his inheritance…

"Before his death we were both born again Christians. Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next three months due to cancer problem. Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to church or to a Christian individual that will utilise this money...

"My name is Thomas Lamin, a merchant in Dubai, in the U.A.E.I have been diagnosed with lung cancer. I have only about a few months to live, and I need to transfer $$$$....

"I am Mr.Dave Desmond Ahmodu , Deputy Secretary-General to the Nigerian Football Association parent body of the World Youths Championship, NIGERIAN 99 Local Organising Committee. US$18.5 million was realised as a result of Over-Invoicing after the successful competition and is presently lying in my Organisations (NFA) coded account with a Bank here in Nigeria, ready for transfer into an overseas account of our choice...

"I am Mr. Gregg Adamson, the son of the late Sierra-Leonian businessman, late Alh. Adamson Mutende the owner of (UMS) mining company in Sierra-Leone, who died seven months ago when the Revolutionary United Front rebels (RUF) attacked our residence in Makeni county.

"Following the current cease fire agreement which was reached with the help of United Nation peace keeping troops, I used the oppoturnity (sic) to leave the country with (US $21.3m)."

And this one, he must be Mr. Lamin's cousin: "My name is Samuel Duke a merchant in Dubai, in the U.A.E.I have been diagnosed with esophageal cancer which was discovered very late, due to my laxity in carrying for my health.

"I am Sophie Kanga, the first daughter of Stephen Kanga one of the most popular black farmers in Zimbabwe who was recently murdered in the land dispute. Before the death of my father, he had taken me to Johannesburg to deposit the sum of US$8.5 million (Eight million, Five Hundred thousand United States dollars), in one of the private finance company, as he foresaw the looming danger in Zimbabwe...

"I am Captain Miller George, a US marine officer and a member of the Iraqi war contingent, while on a search of Sadam's (sic) presidential palaces, we discovered large abadoned (sic) US dollars. In such a war situation we did not declare the actual amount that was seen in the palace. We where able to take part of the money fund, of which my team got US $12m (twelve million United States dollars) as our share which is safely under my control. Now, before the arrival of investigators, we hard arranged a diplomatic courier service that will assist us transport and deposite this amount in sealed container with you on our behalf at any point you may wish to receive it.

"Lying in an inactive account is the sum of US $10.5 million belonging to a foreign customer (Mr. James Kelly) who happens to be deceased. He died with his wife and two children in a plane crash on board an ADC airline flight at the Egirin river Lagos, Nigeria in November 1996. Ever since he died the bank has been expecting his next of kin to come and claim these fund, you can act as his beneficiary...

"Due to my close association with a South African based Arab businessman, he was awarded a huge contract to the value of R250 Million (Rands) for the construction of low cost houses in the rural areas. Before the contract was awarded to this businessman, I had reached an agreement with him for my 20 percent commission for this particular contract, I need you help to get it out...

"I am John.Sese-Seko, the son of the former president of Zaire now Democratic Republic of Congo former president of Zaire now Democratic Republic of Congo (president Mobutu Sese-Seko) my father was violently overthrown from the Office on May 13, 1998 by forces loyal to rebel leader Laurent Kabila...

"My father was forced into exile to Morocco in North Africa where he later died. With this development, the family has empowered me to seek for any honest and God fearing individual who will assist in transferring the huge amount of US$45 million to a less tax account overseas."

Readers, please put aside the obvious appeal to ethnic pride and culture, religious affiliation, appeals to your humanity, youth and athletics, your kindness and generosity (at first), and patriotism of country.

Be warned, these are not real people and you will encounter serious problems, including losing your savings and your identity. Do not, do not reply to any of these letters.

Forward these '419 e-mail cons' (named after the section of the Nigerian penal code that addresses fraud schemes) to the US Secret Service at email: 419.fcd@usss.treas.gov. And forget them, you won't get rich that way, but you might get killed.

Martha Harris Myron CPA CFPr is a Bermudian, a Certified Financial Planner™(US license) practitioner and VP, Personal Financial Services at Bank of Bermuda. She holds a NASD Series 7 license, and formerly owned a US financial services practice meeting the needs of 400 individual and corporate clients.