Another old scam has returned to Medina, police report.

The scam either comes as a letter, email or fax, with the writer usually purporting to be an official of a foreign country or a bank official with a foreign bank.

They claim that you are either related or at least have the same last name of a deceased account holder that has no heirs to claim the proceeds of the account. They agree to make you the beneficiary of the proceeds as long as you split the funds with them.

When you respond to their solicitation they require some type of good faith gesture on your part which inevitably involves wiring money to a bank account outside of the United States. Once they receive the first wire transfer they usually try to get additional transfers as well until ultimately you realize you are being swindled.