Peel Regional police have arrested two men, one from Toronto and one from Brampton, for defrauding a 68-year-old man from Tennessee of about $200,000
(U.S.) with a scheme promising an inheritance of $15 million from Nigeria.

In November 2004, an elderly man was contacted by people using the Internet about receiving such an inheritance, which was reportedly unclaimed due to the death of a person in Nigeria. If left unclaimed, the message said, the money would go to the state.

“They were very convincing,” Det. Malcolm Bow said today. “It was very elaborate. You get some people that fall for it, hook, line and sinker.”

The victim was told to pay various bogus charges in order to receive the millions that were offered.