At some point, the victim is asked to pay up front an "Advance Fee" of some sort, be it an "Advance Fee", "Transfer Tax", "Performance Bond", or to extend credit, grant COD privileges, whatever. If the victim pays the Fee, there are many "Complications" which require still more advance payments until the victim either quits, runs out of money, or both. If the victim extends credit etc. he may also pay such fees ("nerfund" etc.), and then he is stiffed with NO Effective Recourse.
Why is this scam still around? Probably because the scam still claims many victims each year.

Let us look more closely at this scam so that you will easily recognize it and understand why it is so effective:

1. The Request. The person sending the letter or email is:

1. Usually a civil servant who claims to be a member of a contract awards committee or another similar individual who is in a position to know of some kind of governmental corruption. For example, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (N.N.P.C);
2. Usually a doctor or is a member of some other profession to give the appearance that you are dealing with some law abiding member of society;
3. Sometimes a woman since most people feel less suspicious when dealing with women;
4. Usually from Nigeria (hence the name of the scam) or from another similar third world country. This scam is identified with individuals in Nigeria or another similar third world country where government corruption is material and the will of the state to stop this crime is minimal.

2. The Pitch. The civil servant claims that the Committee has deliberately over invoiced a foreign contract to the tune of US$21.5M. U.S. Dollars or some other large amount. The Committee now wants to get the money out of the country but needs a safe account to deposit the funds. Your help is needed and for your help you will get 10% to 35% of the proceeds. The story succeeds in attracting victims because it is plausible. Westerners have the misconception that there is much corruption in developing country governments.

3. The Carrot. The amount that the civil servant wants to share with the victim is a sufficient amount for the victim to retire on. With this once in a life time opportunity in the face of the victim, it would be difficult not to be interested in investigating this opportunity a little further.

4. The Cover-up. There is usually a phrase in the letter that states that because of the Committee's connections, it will be able to get the funds out of the country without risk and that all evidence of the over-invoicing will be destroyed. With all these connections then, why can't this committee open a bank account overseas without the need of a third party?

5. The Urgency. To add a sense of urgency to the story, the civil servant claims that an audit committee is about to conduct a search of the Committee's records soon. As such, you are requested to make a decision quickly.

6. The Sting. Now that you have been set-up, the civil servant requires one of 2 things. The typical request is for personal banking information such as your bank account number, the name and address of your bank and the account name. That is all the civil servant will need to empty your bank account. In some cases the civil servant asks you to forward some money to assist in getting the money transferred out of the country, and in many cases they will ask for a sample of your company letterhead. You can bet that you will
never see such money again.

Now you know what the Nigerian Scam is and why it works. The more important question is why do people fail to recognize that if the above scenario were true and the victim is successful in getting some money, then the victim would in effect be committing a crime as well. There must be some kind of rationalization going on within the victim. The story involves corruption. If the victim thought about it longer, he or she would realize that helping a corrupt committee move over-invoiced funds offshore is also a crime.

That summerizes the essence of the scam. Some variations include the request to speak and meet with you, or for you to visit their home country, usually Nigeria. There are cases of victims meeting the scamsters either in Nigeria or in another foreign country and being kidnapped and robbed. The families of the victims are then asked for a ransom.

If you do receive a Nigerian Scam letter, the best advice is simply to delete the email or throw the hard copy of the letter in the wastebasket. Never contact or communicate with these individuals. If any of these individuals contact you, contact your local law enforcement agency for assistance.
In the event that you are involved in one of these situations, or have lost money to these scamsters, you must act very quicly to mitigate your losses. For professional assistance in these types of matters, contact Asiavest Investigative Services, and arrange for an immediate consultation, or you may also file a report with the United States Secret Service.

This scam is often referred to as the 419 scam, ironically after section 419 of the Nigerian Penal Code which relates to fraudulent schemes. While the Nigerian government periodically makes grand statements that it is cracking down on the scam, it isn't -- for the reason that the scam was, according to some reports, the third-largest industry in Nigeria!!!  This is just too large of a business and revenue generator for Nigeria to crack down on -- it would be like Nevada trying to close their casinos.

There have been numerous reports of high-level officials of the Nigerian government and the Central Bank of Nigeria personally participating in this scam, even to the extent of giving dupe tours through government buildings and showing them stacks of cash in the vault of the Central Bank! 

Should you receive a "scam" letter, ignore it, delete it, erase it, but do not reply. 

---

We have set out below some actual Nigerian scam letters, for your review. These are forwarded to us on almost a daily basis, by potential and actual victims. Review and become familiar with them so as not to become the next victim!

 

NAME:DR. PAUL OREGUN
paul.oregun@caramail.com


     REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE: _STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL


  I AM DR. PAUL OREGUN, THE CHAIRMAN OF CONTRACT
AWARD AND REVIEW COMMITTEE SET UP BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA UNDER THE NEW CIVILIAN
DISPENSATION TO AWARD NEW CONTRACTS AND REVIEW
EXISTING ONES. I CAME TO KNOW OF YOU IN MY SEARCH FOR
A RELIABLE AND REPUTABLE PERSON TO HANDLE A VERY
CONFIDENTIAL TRANSACTION, WHICH INVOLVES THE TRANSFER
OF A HUGE SUM OF MONEY TO A FOREIGN ACCOUNT.
THERE WERE SERIES OF CONTRACTS EXECUTED BY A
CONSORTIUM OF MULTI-NATIONALS IN THE OIL INDUSTRY IN
FAVOUR OF N.N.P.C. THE ORIGINAL VALUE OF THESE
CONTRACTS WERE DELIBRATELY OVER INVOICED TO THE SUM
OF USD$25,000,000.00 (TWENTY FIVE MILLION UNITED STATE
DOLLARS). THIS AMOUNT HAS NOW BEEN APPROVED AND IS
NOW READY TO BE TRANSFERED BEING THAT THE COMPANIES
THAT ACTUALLY EXECUTED THESE CONTRACTS HAVE BEEN FULLY
PAID AND THE PROJECTS OFFICIALLY COMMISSIONED.
CONSEQUENTLY, MY COLLEAGUES AND I ARE WILLING TO
TRANSFER THE TOTAL AMOUNT TO YOUR ACCOUNT FOR
SUBSEQUENT DISBURSEMENT, SINCE WE AS CIVIL SERVANTS
ARE PROHIBITED BY THE CODE OF CONDUCT BUREAU (CIVIL
SERVICE LAW) FROM OPERATING AND/OR OPENING FOREIGN
ACCOUNTS IN OUR NAMES. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE TRUST
REPOSED ON YOU AT THIS JUNCTURE IS ENORMOUS, IN
RETURN, WE HAVE AGREED TO OFFER YOU 30% OF THE
TRANSFERED SUM, WHILE 10% SHALL BE SET ASIDE FOR
INCIDENTAL EXPENSES (INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL) BETWEEN
BOTH PARTIES IN THE COURSE OF THE TRANSACTION YOU WILL
BE MANDATED TO REMIT THE BALANCE TO OTHER ACCOUNTS IN
DUE COURSE.

MODALITIES HAVE BEEN WORKED OUT AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL
OF THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND THE CENTRAL BANK OF
NIGERIA FOR THE IMMEDIATE TRANSFER OF THE FUNDS WITHIN
10 WORKING DAYS SUBJECT TO YOUR SATISFACTION OF THE
ABOVE STATED TERMS. OUR ASSURANCE IS THAT YOUR ROLE IS
RISK FREE.TO ACCORD THIS TRANSACTION THE LEGALITY IT
DESERVES AND FOR MUTUAL SECURITY OF THE FUNDS THE
WHOLE APPROVAL PROCEDURES WILL OFFICIALLY AND LEGALLY
PROCESSED WITH YOUR NAME OR THE NAME OF ANY COMPANY
YOU MAY NOMINATE AS THE BONEFIDE BENEFICIARY.
ONCE MORE I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT HAVING PUT IN
OVER TWENTY FIVE YEARS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE OF MY
COUNTRY, I AM AVERSE TO HAVING MY IMAGE AND CAREER
DENTED. THIS MATTER SHOULD THEREFORE BE TREATED WITH
UTMOST SECRECY AND URGENCY IT DESERVES.AND I WILL LIKE
YOU TO SEND ME YOUR MAIL TO MY PRAIVTE BOX
dr.olusegun.smith@caramail.com

I WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT THIS BUSINESS PROPOSAL IS
100% RISK FREE AS WE HAVE DONE OUR HOME WORK PROPERLY
I QUITE BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL PROTECT OUR INTEREST BY
TAKING THIS DEAL STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL, AS WE ARE
STILL IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE, WHICH WE INTEND TO RETIRE
FROM.KINDLY EXPEDITE ACTION AS WE ARE BEHIND SCHEDULE
TO ENABLE US INCLUDE THIS TRANSFER IN THE SECOND BATCH
WHICH WOULD CONSTITUTE THE FIRST QUARTER PAYMENTS FOR
THE 2003 FINANCIAL YEAR. THANKS AND GOD BLESS.

DR.PAUL OREGUN


NB:
BUT IF YOU KNOW YOU ARE INTERESTED LET ME KNOW. LIST
YOUR PHONE & FAX NUMBERS SO WE MAY
COMMUNICATE WITH YOU. THIS IS IMPORTANT AS WE WOULD
HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE MODALITIES OF THE TRANSACTION.
WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU.

 

 

---

ATTN: MD/PRESIDENT.

 l am sorry for the embarrassment this my letter might cause you as we have not had any correspondence before this letter. l got your address through my newphew who works with Nigeria Chamber of Commerce lndustry and Minning during my research for a reliable and trustworthy partner who l can do business with though l did not disclose the nature of the business l intend to do with whoever he recommend for me. l am DR. MRS MARIAM ABACHA, wife of the late Nigeria Head of State, General Sanni Abacha who died on the 8th of June, 1998 while still on active duty.

 l am contacting you in view of the fact that we will be of great assistance to each other likeness developing a cordial relationship. l currently have within my reach the sum of Fity Million US Dollars (US$50,000,000.00) cash which l intend to use for investment, like Real Estate Development specifically in your country. This money came as a payback contract deal between my late husband and a Russian Firm on our countries multi-billion dollars Ajaokuta Steel Plant. The Russian Parters returned my husband's share of USD$50,000,000.00 after the death of my husband and lodged in my husband's security company of which l am director right now, the new Civilian Government have intensified their probe on my husband's financial and oil company. ln view of these, l acted fast to withdraw the US$50,000,000.00 from the company's vault and deposited it in a Security Company . l have since declared the Security Company bankrupt.

No record ever existed concerning the money traceable by the government because there is no documentation showing that we received the money from the Russian. Due to the current situation int the country concerning government attitude towards my family, it has become quite impossible for me to make use of this money within. Let me refer you to the front page of this day newspapers of 10th March, 2001. You can check it through their website www.thisdayonline.com. The pressent government in Nigeria had frozen and seized all our bank accounts both here in Nigeria and abroad. Thus consent l shall expect you to contact me urgently to enable us discuss in detail about this transaction.

Bearing in mind that your assistance is needed to transfer this fund, l proposed a percentage of 30% of the total sum to you for the expected service and assistance, 15% for offsetting minor expenses incurred in the course of this transaction. Your urgent response is highly needed as to stop further contacts. All correspondence must be by the email address above. l will give you my tel/fax numbers where you can contact me when l hear from you. l must use this opportunity to implore you to exercise the utmost indulgence to keep this matter extraordinarily confidential whatever your decision while await your prompt response. NB: Because of the security being mounted on the members of my family, l have decided that this transaction exist between you and my nephew Aminu Sali. Remember to include your private tel/fax or mobile number for easy communication. Best Regards.

 DR. (MRS) MARIAM ABACHA
reply to: mariam32@justice.com .

---

3/5 RIDER HAGGARD

CLOSE, JO, BORG

SOUTH AFRICA.

Email, nader_burry@yahoo.com

URGENT AND CONFIDENTIAL

(RE: TRANSFER OF ($ 152,000.000.00 USD ]ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY TWO MILLION DOLLARS

Dear sir,

We want to transfer to overseas ($152,000.000.00 USD) One hundred and Fifty two million United States Dollars) from a Prime Bank in Africa, I want to ask you to quietly look for a reliable and honest person who will be capable and fit to provide either an existing bank account or to set up a new Bank a/c immediately to receive this money, even an empty a/c can serve to receive this money, as long as you will remain honest to me till the end for this important business trusting in you and believing in God that you will never let me down either now or in future.

I am Sir Nader Burry, the Auditor General of prime banks in Africa, during the course of our auditing I discovered a floating fund in an account opened in the bank in 1990 and since 1993 nobody has operated on this account again, after going through some old files in the records I discovered that the owner of the account died without a [heir] hence the money is floating and if I do not remit this money out urgently it will be forfeited for nothing. the owner of this account is Mr. Allan P. Seaman, a foreigner, and an industrialist, and he died, since 1993. and no other person knows about this account or any thing concerning it, the account has no other beneficiary and my investigation proved to me as well that Allan P. Seaman until his death was the manager Diamond Safari [pty]. SA.

We will start the first transfer with fifty two million [$52,000.000] upon successful transaction without any disappoint from your side, we shall re-apply for the payment of the remaining rest amount to your account.

The amount involved is (USD 152M) One hundred and Fifty two million United States Dollars, only I want to first transfer $52,000.000 [fifty two million United States Dollar from this money into a safe foreigners account abroad before the rest, but I don't know any foreigner, I am only contacting you as a foreigner because this money can not be approved to a local person here, without valid international foreign passport, but can only be approved to any foreigner with valid international passport or drivers license and foreign a/c because the money is in us dollars and the former owner of the a/c Mr. Allan P. Seaman is a foreigner too, [and the money can only be approved into a foreign a/c.

However, we will sign a binding agreement, to bind us together I got your contact address from the Girl who operates computer, I am revealing this to you with believe in God that you will never let me down in this business, you are the first and the only person that I am contacting for this business, so please reply urgently so that I will inform you the next step to take urgently. Send also your private telephone and fax number including the full details of the account to be used for the deposit.

I want us to meet face to face to build confidence and to sign a binding agreement that will bind us together before transferring the money to any account of your choice where the fund will be safe. Before we fly to your country for withdrawal, sharing and investments.

I need your full co-operation to make this work fine. because the management is ready to approve this payment to any foreigner who has correct information of this account, which I will give to you, upon your positive response and once I am convinced that you are capable and will meet up with instruction of a key bank official who is deeply involved with me in this business.

I need your strong assurance that you will never, never let me down.

With my influence and the position of the bank official we can transfer this money to any foreigner's reliable account which you can provide with assurance that this money will be intact pending our physical arrival in your country for sharing. The bank official will destroy all documents of transaction immediately we receive this money leaving no trace to any place and to build confidence you can come immediately to discuss with me face to face after which I will make this remittance in your presence and three of us will fly to your country at least two days ahead of the money going into the account.

I will apply for annual leave to get visa immediately I hear from you that you are ready to act and receive this fund in your account. I will use my position and influence to obtain all legal approvals for onward transfer of this money to your account with appropriate clearance from the relevant ministries and foreign exchange departments.

At the conclusion of this business, you will be given 35% of the total amount, 60% will be for me, while 5% will be for expenses both parties might have incurred during the process of transferring.

I look forward to your earliest reply through my email address, nader_burry@yahoo.com or Call me on this tel nos. +870-762727947, +871-762727947 fax: +874-762727949. It's a satellite phone, when dialing, do not add South African country code, only add your country's international dial out code, then any of the above nos. starting from 87.

yours truly

SIR NADER BURRY.

---

URGENT AND CONFIDENTIAL

        ATTN: MANAGING DIRECTOR/C.E.O
       

        DR. DAN DAKOVA

    

        REQUEST FOR URGENT BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP

 

First, I must solicit your strictest confidence in this transaction .This by virtue of its nature as being utterly confidential  and 'top secret'. You have been recommended by an associate who assured me in confidence of your ability and  reliability to prosecute a transaction of great magnitude involving a pending business transaction requiring maximum  confidence.

I am a Nigerian presently on attachment in united     kingdom, but at the same time the chairman of contract review panel who is interested in importation of goods into Nigeria with funds which are presently trapped in Nigeria. In order to commence this business we solicit your assistance to enable us transfer into your account the said trapped funds The source of this fund is as follows : During the last Regime here in Nigeria, some Government Officials set up companies and awarded themselves contracts which were grossly over-invoiced in various ministries. The present Government set up a contract Review Panel and we have identified a lot of inflated contract funds which are presently floating in the Central Bank of Nigeria ready for payment. However, by virtue of our position as civil servants and members of this panel, we cannot acquire this money in our names. I have therefore, been delegated as a matter of trust by my colleagues of the panel to look for an overseas partner into whose account we would transfer the sum of US$21,500,000.00 (Twenty One Million, Five Hundred Thousand United .States Dollars) Hence we are writing you this letter.

We have agreed to share the money thus:

1. 20% for the Account owner (you)

2. 70% for us (The officials)

3. 10% to be used in settling taxation and all local
    and foreign expenses.

It is from the 70% that we wish to commence the importation business. Please, note that this transaction is 100% safe and we hope to commence the transfer latest seven (7) banking days from the date of the receipt of the following information below by FAX OR MAIL (a)company ís name Beneficiary of account (b) Your Personal TeL. Number and Fax Number (c) Bank account/Sort/ABA/Routing numbers were the funds will be transfered to (d) Your Bankers Address, Telephone and Fax Number. The above information will enable us write letters of claim and job description respectively. This way we will use your company ís name to apply for payment and re-award the contract in your companyís name. We are looking forward to doing this business with you and solicit your confidentiality in this transaction. Please acknowledge the receipt of this letter using the above  and email or fax me on this # 44-709-234-3325 and i will bring you into the complete picture of this pending project when I have heard from you.

Your faithfully, DR.DAN DAKOVA

---

Private Business Proposal.

Email: bunutanko2@excite.com
Fax:234-1-7597529



Request for Urgent Business Relationship.


First I must solicit your confidence in this transaction. This is by 
virtue of its nature as being utterly confidential and top secret. We 
shall be counting on your ability and reliability to prosecute a 
transaction of great magnitude involving a pending business transaction 
requiring maximum confidence.


We are top officials of the Federal Government Contract Review Panel 
who are interested in importation of goods into our country with funds 
which are presently trapped in Nigeria. In order to commence this
business we solicit your assistance to enable us RECIEVE the said 
trapped funds ABROAD.


The source of this fund is as follows. During the  regime of our late 
head of state, Gen. Sani Abacha, the government officials set up 
companies and awarded themselves contracts which were grossly over-invoiced in 
various Ministries. The NEW CIVILIAN Government set up a Contract 
Review Panel (C.R.P) and we have identified a lot of inflated contract funds 
which are presently floating in the Central Bank of Nigeria (C.B.N). 
However, due to our position as civil servants and members of this panel, 
we cannot acquire this money in our names. 
I have therefore, been 
delegated as a matter of trust by my colleagues of the panel to look for an 
Overseas partner INTO whose ACCOUNT the sum of US$38,020,000.00 (Thirty 
Eight Million, Twenty Thousand United States Dollars) WILL BE PAID BY 
TELEGRAPHIC TRANSFER. Hence we are writing you this letter.

We have agreed to share the money thus:
70% for all partners over here
20% for you as the FOREIGN PARTNER 
10% to be used in settling taxation and all local and foreign expenses.

It is from this 70% that we wish to commence the importation business.

Please note that this transaction is 100% safe and we hope that the 
funds arrive your account in latest ten (10) banking days from the date of 
receipt of the following information by E-mail A suitable name and bank 
account into which the funds can be paid.

The above information will enable us write letters of claim and job 
Description respectively.
This way we will use your company's name to apply for payments and 
re-award the contract in your company name.

We are looking forward to doing business with you and solicit your 
Confidentiality in this transaction.

For security reasons, please respond only to the above or email 
addresses.
I will bring you into the complete picture of this pending project when 
I have heard from
you.

Yours faithfully,

Prof. SABO YUSUF

---

Engr Ude James

Attn: The Managing Director /CEO,

I have been instructed by my colleague to look for a foreign partner who can assist us to execute an urgent private business involving huge profit and international cooperation. We are interested in the importation of Agricultural equipment and computer accessories from oversea and we need a foreign partner who can arrange a bank account for the transfer of US$33.000.000.00.

We have resolved that 30% will be your commission for nominating a new bank account and a company that will receive these funds on our behalf and any other assistance you may give in this deal. 10% of the entire sum has been mapped out to settle any outstanding expenses we may incur in the cause on this funds transfer, while 60% of our share will be used for the importation.

My colleagues and I are civil servants and as members of the contract review panel . This funds arose from over-invoiced contract sum awarded by the past Military régime in my country. As members of this panel we have identified and secured this funds in our Apex bank for transfer. It is against the (code of conduct bureau) for us to operate a foreign account; hence we are soliciting your firm support in this deal. We can finalize the transaction in ten working days.

If this deal is accepted respond to us via phone No: 234-1-8047059 to enable us provide you with the detailed modalities for the successful completion of the project. There is no risk involved we just need international connection.

Yours Sincerely,

Engr Ude James

---

Sir,
I AM MAKING THIS CONTACT WITH YOU IN GOODFAITH. I GOT YOUR EMAIL ADRESS FROM THE FORIEGN DEPARTMENT IN OURMINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OFFICE.

I AM WORKING WITH THE STANDARD TRUST BANK LIMITED, APAPA BRANCH LAGOS. MY PURPOSE OF WRITING YOU IS TO ASK FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE TO PROVIDE YOUR BANK ACCOUNT WHERE I CAN SUCCESSFULLY SECURE THE SUM OF $11.5 MILLION (TEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS)

FOR YOUR INFORMATION, THERE IS ONE JAPANESE BUSINESS MERCHANT BASED HERE IN NIGERIA AND HIS NAME IS TOSHIO KUZITO HE IS THE OWNER OF KUZITO FISHERIES NIG. LTD, LOCATED AT NO125 INDUSTRIAL ZONE , OSHODI/APAPA EXPRESSWAY, ISOLO HERE IN LAGOS.

THIS MAN DIED IN A PLANE CRASH IN 1999 TOGETHER WITH HIS WIFE AND 3 CHILDREN. HE IS BANKING WITH MY BANK AND I'M HIS ACCOUNTING OFFICER.

HOWEVER,SINCE THE DEATH OF MR TOSHIO, I HAVE BEEN
TRYING TO CONTACT ANY OF HIS RELATION IN THE CITY OF OSAKA, HIS HOME COUNTRY THROUGH HIS ADDRESS WITH ME, TO LET HIS PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT HIS MONEY IN OUR BANK. BUT I DID NOT RECIEVE ANY RESPONSE. NOW I HAVE DECIDED TO LINK ANYBODY TO STAND AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO MR TOSHIO IN OTHER TO CLAIM THE MONEY.

NOTE THAT THERE IS NO RISK INVOLVED IN THIS TRANSACTION AT ALL AS I WILL GIVE EVERY INFORMATION ABOUT MR TOSHIO AND ALL HIS BANKING RELATION WITH US. THIS TRANSACTION WILL GO THROUGH NORMAL BANKING PROCESS ONLY THAT YOU HAVE TO STAND FIRM AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO MR TOSHIO JUST TO CLAIM THIS MONEY. I WILL DIRECT YOU ON HOW TO APPLY FOR THE CLAIM OF THIS MONEY.

PLEASE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED AND CAPABLE TO CARRY OUT THIS DEAL WITH ME, SEND ME YOUR FULL BANK DETAILS WHERE THIS MONEY WILL BE TRANSFERED AND ALSO GIVE ME YOUR MOBILE PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS OR ANY PHONE NUMBER I CAN REACH YOU DIRECTLY.

NOTE THAT WE CAN
CONCLUDE THIS DEAL WITHIN 1 WEEK YOU APPLIED FOR THE CLAIM.

I HAVE DECIDED TO SHARE THE MONEY EQUAL WITH YOU PROVIDED YOU WILL GIVE ME ALL THE ASSITANCE NEEDED. PLEASE REPLY TO MY PRIVATE EMAIL ADDRESS:alhazarah@37.com , for security reasons. I'M WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT RESPONSE.
BEST REGARDS
MR ALI HAZARAH

---

FROM: ABDUL KASSIM
DATE: July 18, 2001
ATTENTION: PRESIDENT/CEO
I GUESS MY LETTER WOULD NOT EMBERRASS YOU SINCE I HADNO PREVIOUS CORRESPONDENT WITH YOU. MY NAME IS ALH'ABDUL KASSIM CHIAMAN ON CONTRACT AWARD OF THE NIGERIAN NATIONALASSEMBLY,IN 1999 WHEN THE NEW GOVERNMENT COMES TO POWER,THIS COMMITTEE AWARDED CONTRACTS FOR REFORBISHING OF ALL OUR REFINERIES AND TURN AROUND MAITENACE <TOA> CONSORTIUM OF CHIYODA SEPIEBATGROLES FOUEROLLE AND BOUYGUES FOR THE TUNE OF USS420,000,000.

WE THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS MASTER-MINDED THE OVER- INVOICE OF THE CONRACT VALUE TO THE TUNE OF USS432,000,000. LAST YEAR 2000,THE CONTRACTORS RECEIVED PART OF THEIR PAYMENTS AND THIS YEAR 2001, THEY ARE RECEIVING THE BALANCE OF THEIR PAYMENT. WE REQUIRE AN HONEST AND TRUST-WORTHY PERSON LIKE YOU WHO WILL NOT BETRAY OUR TRUST, TO COOPERATE AND ALLOW THE USE OF YOUR BANK ACCOUNT OR YOUR COMPANY ACCOUNT TO TRANSFER OUT THE BALANCE OF THE OVER-INVOICE SUM WHICH IS USS12,000,000. WE HAVE AGREED THAT AT COMPLETION OF THE TRANSFER 50% OF  THE TOTAL SUM SHALL BE INVESTED ON THE AGREED JOINT BUSINESS VENTURES APPROVED BY YOU IN YOUR COUNTRY, AND 10% FOR YOU WHO PROVIDE THE ACCOUNT , 30%FOR ME AND MY COMMITTEE MEMBERS ,AND THE REMAINING 10% FOR ANY EXPENSES INCURRED ON THE COURSE OF TRANSFER IF YOU ARE INTRESTED ALL WE REQUIRE FROM YOU IS THE BANK DETAILS TO ENEBLE US FORWARD AN APPLICATIONS ON YOUR BEHALF FOR RELEASE OF THE FUND.

PLEASE NOTE REMITTANCE  WOULD BE EFFECTED WITHIN 14 DAYS ON RECEIPT OF YOUR BANK DETAILS AND ENDEAVOUR TO REPLY ME IF YOUR CAPABILITY DOSE NOT MEET UP OUR PROPOSALS ,SO THAT  I CAN FURHER MORE NEGOTIATIONS. YOU CAN REACH ME ON TELE/FAX NUMBER=234-1-7745016 , EMAIL= naofdc@yahoo.com

YOURS FAITHFULLY

---

 

Dear Sir,

URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL.
This letter may come to you as a surprise since it is coming from someone you have not met before.
However, we decided to contact you based on a satisfactory information we had about your business
person as regards this business information concerning your country and the safety of our funds
in a steady economy such as that of your country compared to our country Nigeria, Africa.
I am a civil adviser currently working with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (N.N.P.C).
I and my close and trusted colleagues need your assistance in the transfer of US$50 million
into any reliable Account you may nominate overseas.

This fund was generated from over-invoicing of contracts executed by the N.N.P.C. under our control
and supervision. This fund is now ready to be remitted into any account we put forward for that
purpose.
What we want from you is a good and reliable company or personal account into which we shall transfer
this fund.

Details should include the following:
1. Name of Bank.
2. Address of Bank with fax and tel. number.
3. Account number.
4. Beneficiary/Signatory to account(Account name).

Upon the successful crediting of your account, the fund will be shared as follows:
1. 25% to you for your assistance.
2. 70% for myself and my colleagues.
3. 5% for contingency expenses.

Please after your first reply through e-mail, I will want us to continue further communication by fax and
telephone for confidential purpose. We wish to assure you that your involvement should you decide
to assist us, will be well protected. This business is 100% risk free as we have secured our own side of
the transaction.
Thank you for your anticipated co-operation while we look forward to a mutually benefiting business
relationship with you.

Please when replying to my e-mail, kindly include your telephone, fax number and mobile telephone numbers preferably extremely private numbers where we can reach you anytime of the day.

Best regards,

Dr Tunde Momoh.

---

From:Dr.A T**
Lagos-Nigeria.
Attn:President/Ceo.

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS PROPOSAL
RE: TRANSFER OF US$21.5 MILLION (TWENTY ONE MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS ONLY).

I am a member of the Federal Government of Nigeria Contract Award and Monitoring Committee in the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Sometime ago, a contract was awarded to a foreign firm in NNPC by my Committee. This contract was over invoiced to the tune of US$21.5M. U. S. Dollars. This was done deliberately. The over- invoicing was a deal by my committee to benefit from the project. We now want to transfer this money which is in a suspense Account with NNPC into any Overseas Account which we expect you to provide for us.

SHARE: -
For providing the account where we shall remit the money into, you will be entitled to 30% of the money, 60% will be for me and my partners while 10% has been mapped out from the total sum to cover any expenses that may be incurred by us during the course of this transfer, both locally and international expenses. It may interest you to know that a similar transaction was carried out with one MR. P M, President of Crane, I**, TEL: (***). The deal was concluded and all covering documents were forwarded to MR. M to authenticate the claim. Once the funds were transferred, MR. M presented his Bank with all the legal documents and remitted the whole funds to another Bank Account and disappeared completely. My colleagues were shattered, as such opportunities do not come all the time. I would require the following: -

1. Your Company's Name,Address,Tel.&Fax. Numbers.

2. Your Bank Account Number and Address where the
money will be remitted.

The above informations would be used to make formal applications as a matter of procedure for the release of the money and onward transfer to your account.

It does not matter whether or not your company does contract projects of this nature described here. The assumption is that your company won the major contract and subcontracted it out to other companies. More often than not, big trading companies or firms of unrelated fields win major contracts and subcontracts to more specialized firms for execution of such contracts.

We have strong reliable connections and contacts at the Central Bank of Nigeria, as well as the Federal Ministry of Finance and we have no doubt that all the money will be released and transferred if we get the necessary foreign partner to assist us in this deal.

Therefore, when the business is successfully concluded we shall through our same connections withdraw all documents used from all the concerned Government Ministries for 100% security.

We are ordinary civil servants and we will not want to miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to get rich. We want this money to be transferred to the overseas Accounts for us, before the present Democratic Government starts Auditing all Federal Government owned Parastatals.

Please contact me immediately through my telefax number whether or not you are interested in this deal. If you are not, it will enable me scout for another foreign partner to carry out this deal. But where you are interested, send the required documents aforementioned herein through my above tel/fax number, as time is of the essence in this business.

I wait in anticipation of your fullest co-operation.

Yours faithfully,

Dr.A T** "

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URGENT RESCUE ASSISTANCE

Attn: MP.

I kindly wish to solicit for your assistance in a very deplorable condition of mine. I am a native of
Kinsagani in Democratic republic of Congo. I was a former director to Forum Merchant Bank
in Kinsagani. As a result of outbreak of civil war in my country, my bank was attacked and looted by
rebels who were searching for fund to aid their arms and ammunition.

We had never expected the inversion of Kinsagani by the rebels because the Government forces were
fully in control. But on Sunday night we saw hell when the rebels invaded the city. Consequently I was able
to intercept my bank's under group box containing US$38M and handed it over to a security company. But
due to safety sake, I told the security firm that the content of the box is sensitive security minting and
printing parts belonging to my bank.

Your contact was made available through a diplomatic friend who flew out of the country to Saudi Arabia during the war. He assured me of your capability to assume the beneficiary of the money, being a good person. Although my mind is full of doubt while doing this, but after meditation, my spirit accepted trusting you.

Now we are still in the refugee camp pending evacuation to any neighbouring country, if the
rebels action persisted. You should forward your contact address, private telephone, e-mail and fax numbers
so that I can submit it to the security company for easy correspondence to you.

I resolved that you should own 15% of the total money from the box. Remember not to allow the security
company comprehended the actual content of the box so that total safety of this money is guaranteed.

Best Regards, as I wait your urgent reply.

Mr. S K.

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VICTOR OGHENE.

LAGOS, NIGERIA.

A very good day to you. We have an immediate business proposal that involves USD26,4000,000.00 which we Like to invest under your custody. Please, do not hesitate to send me a response intimating me of your interest. Once I receive a message from you notifying me of your interest, the details Of the transaction/the terms and condition of sharing regarding the business Would then be brought to your knowledge. Your urgent response will be highly appreciated and will swiftly bring us to the commencement of the transaction. We hope to conclude this transaction within 14 working days. Do not forget to contact me on the receipt of this message on my confidential Fax number 234-1-7593963. I would also need you to send to me your confidential Telephone/Fax numbers and an alternate email address if this is not confidential enough for this transaction. Please note that this transaction should held in confidence between us. I urgently await your response. Best Regards,

VICTOR OGHENE.

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Dear Sir,
REQUEST FOR URGENT ASSISTANCE
I got to know of you in my search for a reputable person/company to assist in an urgent business deal requiring utmost trust and confidentiality.

I am BARRISTER PRINCE ORJI, an Attorney and close confident of MRS. MARYAM ABACHA, the former first lady and wife of the late GEN. SANI ABACHA, the former Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

She (MRS M. ABACHA), as a result of the trust and confidence she has in me mandated that I search for a reliable and trustworthy foreign partner, who will help receive some funds which she had in cash totaling US$40M (Fourthy Million United States Dollars only) into a personal, company or any reliable foreign bank account for safe-keeping for a short period of time, since here family bank accounts within and outside the country have all been frozen by the authorities.

(I would refer you the website of TELL WEEKLY MAGAZINE: www.tell.org of November 23, 1998 page 25, for further information about this monies and the ABACHAS.) The money in question has however, been clearly moved in defaced from Nigeria to a close country-Ghana and deposited with a security company that has its headquarters in London with branches in North America, Asia, and West Africa.

It may also interest you to note that she (MRS. ABACHA) and her family, since the inception of the present democratic government, been placed under partial house arrest, with their international traveler’s passport withdrawn pending when the current fund recovery face-off between them and the present Government of President Olusegun Obasanjo is resolved, which from all indications will not exceed this year.

She has decided to offer anybody who will be willing to render this tremendous assistance, 20% of the total sum. Note that this transaction involves no risks whatsoever, as you will have no dealing with my country - Nigeria. Rather, you will deal directly with the security company which is based where the money is right now. Let me have your confidential Tel/Fax numbers in your response to this proposal.

I shall let you into a complete picture of this mutual beneficial transaction when I have received your anticipated positive response on the above email address.This matter should be treated as urgent and confidential.

Best regards,

BARRISTER PRINCE ORJI.

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WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

From:        joefe@flashmail.com

Reply-To:   joefe@flashmail.com

To:            "xxxxx xxx" <xxxxx@hotmail.com

Subject:     Re: BUSINESS PROPOSAL

Date:         Thu, 1 Nov 2001 09:55:42 -0800

Attachment: NNPC.FORM..doc (79k)  

 

Dear sir,

 

Thanks for replying my mail.

For purpose of clarity, I am a member of the special committee for contract payment called the Contract Review Panel (CRP) vested with the authority to appraise and approve contacts according to the priority of the Federal Government of Nigeria. By virtue of our position in the CRP, we have over-time be able to uncover several over-invoiced/ overestimated contracts. And through careful manipulation of these documents, secured for ourselves the sum of US$ 14.3M (FOURTEEN MILLION, THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) only which I need your assistance to transfer into a safe offshore account. We need your assistance as the funds is secured in an escrow account of the Federal Governement specifically set aside for the settlement of outstanding payment to foreign contractors. We are handicapped in the circumstances, as the Civil service code of conduct does not allow us to operate offshore accounts hence your importance in the whole transaction. Therefore, we want to utlize this opportunity as a lot of foregin contractors will be paid in this quarter of the year 2001 to transfer the fund out of the country. Consequently, we want to present you/your company as the beneficiary of the sum of US$14.3M.

For this purpose we will incorporate your company and register you as a contractor with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). We will also by virtue of our official positions secure for your company the necessary backup documentation that will facilitate the release/transfer of the fund into your account. These documents of course will be destroyed at the successful completion of the transfer.

We want to assure you that your help will not in any way bring your company name into disrepute.

In this regard we request you to complete and send us urgently by fax the attached Payment Information Form.

The information will enable us initial preliminary application and payment process at the NNPC, Debt Reconciliation Committee, Federal Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria for immediate release/transfer of the funds.

We have agreed that you will retain 20% of the entire US$14.3M for your effort in this transaction, 70% for us partners here in Nigeria and the remaining 10% will be use for defrayal of incidental cost in the course of the transfer. My colleagues and I would require your personal guarantee concerning the safety availability of our share on demand when the fund is credited to your account via telegraphic wire remittance. Note that if you follow our instructions regularly, we can conclude this transaction within the next 10 - 14 working days.

 

Please endeavor to obvserve the required level of confidentiality as we are still in active service. I will appreciate you always call me for more elaborate discussions and for further instruction. I will always expect your prompt response on my very confidential mobile telephone number 2348033042428, where you can reach me, 24 hrs, fax number 23492721197. It is advisable that you endeavor to call me so that we can get intimated.

 

Please treat as urgent.

 

Best regards,

 

Dr. John Efetobor

 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Subsequent to his last email sent to me, I have made contact with him several times. A series of initial "forged" documents were faxed to me. They include:

 

1) Certificate of Incorporation (Corporate Affairs Commission) Federal Republic of Nigeria

2) Income Tax Clearance Certificate Companies Income Tax Act (CITA) (Federal Board of Inland Revenue District/Station Lagos)

3) Official Receipt of income tax payments (Federal Republic of Nigeria)

4) Contract Award Certificate - Contract Tender Board Committee (Federal Ministry of Works and Housing Contract Tender Board)

5) Contract Completion Certificate (Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC))

 

The above documents were supposedly faxed through from NNPC

 

One day later I received another document supposedly from "Federal Ministry of Finance" notifying me of the final approval of the remmittance.

 

The following day, I received two documents claimed to be from "Central Bank of Nigeria" notifying me that they have received final payment instruction from the Federal Ministry of Aviation (FMA), Federal Ministry of Finance(FMF) and Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria. The letter is said to be from Dr. R. M. Rasheed, Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria. The following is an extract from the letter:

 

"In line with CBN International transfer guidelines, you being the beneficiary of this fund is required to fly down to Nigeria within 5 working days from date, for the physical signing of Fund Release Order (FRO), which will facilitate immediate release of your fund. You are to report at the 9th Floor of International Remittance Department, Central Bank of Nigeria building, Tinubu Square, Lagos Nigeria.... In the alternative, if you will not be in position to come, you are required to send a Power Attorney, which will empower us to appoint a CBN-Accredited Attorney who will sign the documents on your behalf before final release of this fund. Please be informed that all expenses pertaining to legal representation shall be borne by you."

 

After receiving this letter, I immediately called Dr. John Efetobor who advised me to send a fax notifying Dr. R.M. Rasheed that I will not be able to fly down to Nigeria and request them to appoint a CBN-Accredited Attorney.

 

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

The next day, I received a fax from "Eric Okoya and Associates - Solicitors, Advocates and Notary Public" This is how the fax is read:

 

RE: SIGNING OF DOCUMENT AT CBN ON YOUR BEHALF

 

We are happy to inform you that our chambers (Eric Okoya & Associates) has been appointed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to represent and sign the fund release documents on your behalf.

 

We are accredited CBN attorneys with many years of operational excellence. We have been handling matters of this sort on behalf of various foreign contractors over the years and we have no doubt that we shall satisfy your needs by acting as your attorney at the CBN in order to sign the relevant documents on your behalf.

 

Meanwhile, we shall carry out this assignment only if we receive a mobilization fee that will cover the following from you upon receipt of this fax:

 

1.    Stamp duty.......................................US$2,000.00

2.    Notarization fee.................................US$1,000.00

3.    Swearing of Affidavit on your behalf......US$2,200.00

        Total Amount Payable.......................US$5,200.00

 

However, for every transaction of this nature, this chambers shall be entitled to 0.1% of the contract sum when the found finally credited into your nominated account. In the meantime, you are required to send the sum of US$5,200.00 being mobilization fee thereafter you shall be required to pay the balance amount to this chambers after you have received your contract sum from Central Bank of Nigeria.

 

We wish to state that our job is not only to sign the documents on your behalf. But we shall closely monitor (CBN) until you receive your fund at the appointed time.

 

You are required to send this sum of US$5,200.00 immediately through Western Union Money Transfer in the name of our accounting office below:

 

                    Mr Godwin O Duruji

                    22, Animashaun Street, Ijesha

                    Lagos-Nigeria

 

We look forward to your prompt response.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Chief Okoya (SAN)

Principal Attorney

N.B: You can call me on my Cell phone 234-8033046767

 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

I got a bit suspicious when this person called my house number which he had no way of knowing unless he had come in direct contact with the initial Dr. John Efetobor. I became more suspicious when I compared their email addresses. joefe@flashmail.com and okoya55@flashmail.com (Working at a reputable company, surely they must have some sort of company domain name) Coincidentally, both these criminal's mobile phone numbers are nearly identical 234 803 304 2428 (Dr. John Efetobor) and 234 803 304 6767 (Chief Eric Okoya)  

 

Nevertheless, I rang up Dr. John Efetobor and advised him that I was not able to come up with the funds immediately. He sounded convincing by assuring me that "this is not only your problem, it is also my problem" And he agreed to come up with US$2,200 if I was able to source US$3,000. 

 

I was pretty certain at this stage that this whole thing seems to be choreographed. I conviniently looked up "Nigeria Scam" in the search engine and learnt of the "419" Scam. Now I am definite that this is a scam. I have not given them any monies as such but they do have my company name and bank account details. Please advice me on my proceedings.

 

Other Numbers listed in the forged documents:

 

Eric Okoya and Associates:

Tel: 234-1-2901233

Fax: 234-1-7590187

 

Central Bank of Nigeria:

Tel: 234-9-2727212

Fax: 234-1-7592500

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                                                                                     November 23, 2001

Dear Friend,

I must solicit for your understanding and pray that
God will give you the wisdom to understand my request
in a position to help. I am Dr. Jim Pakoko, the State
Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Accra, Ghana; I am
contacting you seeking for your kind assistance and
cooperation to assist me. Regarding to the news I
heard couple of days ago, that the Presidential Task
Force under the president Federal Republic of Ghana
and Ghanaian Secret Service (GSS) to investigate and
froze all Foreign Account belonging to Government
Officials, already a lot of Accounts belonging to most
of my colleagues has been traced and reported to the
presidency.

Please my dear friend; based on this explanation, your
candid assistance is highly solicited for the
immediate transfer of US$25.5million in my Foreign
Account to your Account or any safe Account you can
provide. As soon as I receive an acknowledgement of
receipt of this message in acceptance to assist me I
shall forward immediately to you all the necessary
modalities and disbursement ratio to suit both of us
after the transfer.

Note: Please keep this message strictly confidential,
as you know any leakage will lead to the termination
of my tenure in office. 

Please do not make undue advantage to bestow the trust
I have on you.

While thanking you for your anticipated cooperation, I
look forward to your urgent and swift response.

Best Regards,
Dr. Jim Pakoko
State Commissioner for Solid Minerals
Accra, Ghana

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Investigators Note:  This e-mail is a pure FRAUD!  You should never reply to this type of inquiry.  You should automatically hit the DELETE button, or forward a copy to the U.S. Secret Service.  Don't bother trying to notify the Government of Nigeria, because in many cases, corrupt government officials are involved in these types of scams.

If you are a United States Citizen or Resident and have suffered NO Financial Loss, write "No Financial Loss - For Your Database" on the documents you received and Fax them to the US Secret Service Task Force handling Scam matters at 202-406-6930. Actual hardcopy of the 419er document(s) is required to add your 419ers information to the Task Force Database for legal reasons, merely telling Task Force about it will NOT suffice.
Another option you have is to forward a copy of the solicitation to the offices of INTERPOL, and include the e-mail header information.

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DON'T BE THEIR NEXT VICTIM.  IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT IS!!!!!!!!

 NEVER pay anything up front for any reason.
 NEVER extend credit for any reason.
 NEVER do anything until their check clears.
 NEVER expect any help from the Nigerian Government.
 NEVER rely on your Government to bail you out.
 NEVER reveal your personal banking information.

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