WARRINGTON businessmen and women are again being targeted as part of a cash scam involving Nigerian con-men.

As reported in the Guardian in December 1999, people were being contacted by letters headed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation asking them for the use of their company bank accounts.

One couple, Simon and Ann Quinn of Stockton Heath, lost their £30,000 life savings to the tricksters. Other businessmen, including John Tansey, of Tansey's Coaches, and Rotary Club member, Stan Gerrard, of Appleton, were also targeted but did not reply.

Mr Tansey has again been contacted and he passed his letter on to the Guardian as a warning to others.

The letter asks if 14.5 million US dollars could be deposited in the business account for which the person will receive a 30 per cent cut of the cash.

But Peter Astley, Trading Standards manager, says a special unit, the West African Organised Crime Section, has been set up by the Metropolitan Police to deal with such cases and that people should seek advice before getting involved.

"The WAOCS is aware that various schemes are now being perpetrated by email and fax as well as by direct mailings," he said.

"As it is difficult to prevent businesses and consumers receiving this type of junk mail, the best advice is to think very carefully about the validity of such letters if you receive them."