I've recieved a number of these myself, although I've never fully understood what they are trying to accomplish. Are they trying to tap bank accounts? I would hope most people are smart enough to never give personal banking information out. I often wondered what someone would do with someone else's back account number. It seems to me evertime you write a check you are already giving out your account number. If an account number were all that were needed to empty one's account, all of us would have gone broke decades ago.
In regard to the Nigerian scam, I once knew the wife of a man who fell for it. As it turned out, they didn't so much want his bank number as $10,000 in cash for some unexpected last minute expense. The bank number was just a way to make it all seem legitimate. Well, semi-legitimate. No honest person would fall for something like this. It appeals to people with larceny in their hearts already.
True enough. I will state that I saw a guy on the evening news once whou could strip you of all your important numbers in moments. From the slightest bit of information, he'd develop the rest in hours. Then he could tap your accounts. I watched the presentation, and the guy seemed legit. He'd been busted for it and now helped the police bust people doing much the same thing. He could get money out of your bank account. I believe there are people out there that can do this, although you may be right in this instance. And yes, I agree larceny is the key that opens most people up to be taken.