Nigerian 419 scam fools ex-customs man into cashing fake cheques

Ever wonder what happens if someone answers one of the those emails from west Africa promising  a share of cash in return for helping to access some mysteriously frozen bank account? Retired customs man Eoin Breslin from Galway pleaded guilty this week to six counts of forgery and theft after being sucked into a classic 419 scam. He found out the hard way. Once contact was made, fake cheques were sent to Ireland to be lodged and then a portion of the cash wired to another country. Needless to say once the cash was gone it would become apparent the cheques were fake. In this case the travellers' cheques were of good enough standard to fool bank officials. Hard to believe the scam is still working Read Ann Healy's court report here.