Those readers who agree with us at El Reg that Nigerian 419 fraudster baiting desrves recognition as an Olympic sport will find plenty to chuckle about at the The Graham Douglas Fraud Masterclass - a classic chronicle of Lagos-based scammers being led gently up the garden path to ridicule.

The man with access to the obligatory vast deposit of unclaimed wedge is in this case one "Dr Graham Douglas". He clearly thinks he's onto a winner with gullible victim Norman Bettison, who spookily shares a name, address and fax number with the Chief Constable of Merseyside Police.

There's the usual 30 per cent of $18.5 million dollars at stake here, so it's no surprise that "Normy" is straining at the leash to get his sweaty paws on the loot.

A flurry of emails later and Bettison is on a plane to the US to collect his booty. But there is no happy ending to this sordid tale of avarice which concludes tragically in a Houston hotel room. Enjoy. ®

Related links

Some other 419 fraudster baiters are celebrated here.
Get our limited edition "Ghostly 419" t-shirt from Cash'n'Carrion.