New mail scam involving Nigerian bank uses fake FBI OK

Authorities are warning people to beware of a mail scam involving a Nigerian bank and including a phony reference from the Federal Bureau of Investigation stating the request for personal banking information is genuine.

The first letter comes from the Central Bank of Nigeria and says the bank received instruction to credit the recipient's account with $10.7 million as part of a contract inheritance.

Further instructions ask the recipient to provide their account information immediately.

Accompanying the letter from the bank is a letter that claims to be from Robert Mueller III, director of the FBI.

The letter says a federal investigation has screened the individuals handling the transaction and reassures that the recipient can feel secure in going through with the transaction.

The letter is fraudulent, and one of many schemes floating through the postal system designed to entice people to provide personal bank account information or wire payments to scam artists, said Special Agent Brian Ritter.

Anyone who receives anything of this nature should notify authorities immediately.

Several copies of this latest scam have been forwarded to the FBI's Cape Girardeau office from concerned residents, Ritter said.

"Our response when we receive scams like this is to try to educate the public," Ritter said.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

388-3635