Page "Nigerian scam" Paragraph 45

Many legitimate ( or at least fully registered ) companies work on a similar basis, using this method as their primary source of earnings.

Some modelling and escort agencies will tell applicants that they have a number of clients lined up, but that they require a " registration fee " of sorts to account for processing and marketing expenses, or so it is claimed, which is paid in a number of untraceable methods, most often by cash ; once the fee is paid, the applicant is informed that the client has cancelled, and thereafter they never contact the applicant again.