WHAT an offer I've had this week. All I have to do is send my bank account details to the heir of a wealthy gold and cocoa merchant and I could cop for 15 per cent of his 45 million US dollar inheritance.

I'll bet!

Saeed A Ibrahim claims to be the first son of an opulent dealer based in Accra, Ghana, who was poisoned by his business associate and died in November 2000.

Before he succumbed in a private hospital his father revealed he had the fortune stashed with a security company in Europe, but they didn't know the contents of the safe box.

The cash was deposited in his son's name and he was advised to seek a foreign partner in a country of his choice where he could transfer the money and invest it.

He said he wanted me to help him clear this fund into my account as a beneficiary. Aren't I - and presumably many others - the lucky one? I don't think so.

All he wants is help to clear the fund from security, provide a bank account to transfer the money into and serve as a guardian of the fund, and make arrangements for him to come into the country and secure a residential permit.

Not asking much is it? Still the pay off of over 6 million dollars is not bad. If only it were true.

I'm sorry but I'm not that gullible to be taken in by the lure of filthy lucre -- and I hope no-one else locally who has received the same appeal is either.