[A*O]

ANY unsolicited email offering you Too Good To Be True money (inheritance, lottery win, bank vault of cash, etc) is a scam. Many of them come from West Africa, but there are a lot of scammers in Eastern Europe and elsewhere.

Victim psychology is interesting. Yes they are gullible and trusting (and greedy to an extent) but victims like this woman become so wrapped up in the scam and so desperately want to believe the millions they've been promised are just about to be sent that they carry on.

I compare it to a gambling addiction. You know deep down that you are losing your money but you keep spinning the wheel just one more time hoping that this time you will win.

There is also a lot of denial and shame. Many victims get sucked in and cannot see any way out except to keep on paying because they can't admit to themselves that they've been conned and the money is gone. It's easy to say they are greedy and dumb and many are, but you'd be shocked at the number of apparently intelligent, successful people who get sucked in.