PROOF that the 'Nigerian letter scam' has infiltrated the e-mail system has been received by a Worcester businessman.

The scam refers to letters sent by crooks posing as Nigerian government officials, who ask the recipient to provide a 'safe' bank account into which they can transfer a huge amount of money that would otherwise be seized by the government.

In reality, the bank details are used to obtain bogus loans and credit cards, which are in turn used to finance dangerous international drugs syndicates.

The letter scam has been around for years but police have become increasingly worried recently about e-mail, the ease of which will make it even easier for the fraudsters to target unsuspecting victims.

Chris Pate, financial director at real estate agents Andrew Grant, in Worcester, received one such e-mail, seeking "a reliable and reputable person to handle a very confidential transaction".

The e-mail, supposedly from a Dr Ibrahim Adisa, a director with the Federal Ministry of Petroleum, said US$26.5m would be transferred into the account and the recipient would receive 25 per cent for their trouble. It was sent from a hotmail address in Dr. Adisa's name.

"It's the standard Nigerian con but I've never seen it done by e-mail," said Mr Pate.

Every year, thousands of businesses are targeted by the crooks and police have urged people to be on their guard. One Birmingham businessman was so ensnared in the scam, which hooks people through blackmail, he committed suicide.