Scams go back a ways

"In the middle of our discourse word was brought me from my brother’s that there is a fellow come from my father out of the country, on purpose to speak to me, so I went to him and he made a story how he had lost his letter, but he was sure it was for me to go into the country, which I believed, and thought it might be to give me notice of Gravely Court, but I afterwards found that it was a rogue that did use to play such tricks to get money of people, but he got none of me."

This day in Sam Pepys diary, 1661

The scammer would have hoped to be paid by Sam for delivering the message [supposedly in the lost letter] from his father.  Such was the 'postal service' of the time.