Email scams - an example

I just opened my email and the first thing that I read was this;

"JULIUS AKIM
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF WORKS & HOUSING
IKOYI LAGOS
NIGERIA.

Dear Sir,

I know that this letter will come to you as a surprise but please regard it with full attention, I am Mr. Julius Akim by name, i am heading the officials from the Federal Ministry of Works & Housing (FMW&H),Federal Ministry of Finance and the presidency, making up the contract review panel(CRP)set up by the Federal Government of Nigeria to review contracts awarded by the past military administration. In the course of our work in the CRP,We discovered that, this fund which resulted from grossly over-invoiced contract executed for the FMW&H during the last administration.

The companies that executed the contract have been duly paid and the contracts commissioned leaving the sum of US$42.462Million floating in the Escrow, I have therefore been mandated as a matter of trust by my colleagues in the panel to look for an oversea partner to whom we could transfer the sum of US$42.462M by legally subcontracting the contract entitlement to your company.

We will be able to discuss a favorable percentage after a positive response from you. All logistics are in place and all modalities worked out for the smooth conclusion of the transaction within ten to fourteen working days of commencement after receipt of the following information from you. your full name, address, details and activities, private telephone & fax numbers. this information will enable us to make application and lodge claims to the concerned ministries and agencies in your favor and it is pertinent to state that this transaction is based entirely on trust as the solar bank draft or certified cheque drawable in any of the Central Bank of Nigeria correspondent Bankers in Europe and United states is going to be made in your name.

Please acknowledge the receipt of this letter through the email for now, you can reach me on juliusakim@mail.md

Regards

Mr. Julius Akim."

However, this is almost definitely a 419/"Nigerian" scam designed to get some poor sucker to part with their money in return for a much larger amount, which never appears. According to Wiki, variations on this con have been around since the 16th century. (see here for more background information)