An excellent summary of what to do about these scam letters can be found here.

In general, the five rules for doing business with Nigeria:

1. NEVER pay anything up front for ANY reason.
2. NEVER extend credit for ANY reason.
3. NEVER do ANYTHING until their check clears.
4. NEVER expect ANY help from the Nigerian Government.
5. NEVER rely on YOUR Government to bail you out.

More related material can be found here and here.

Even the Royal Canadian Mounted Police ("Mounties") has a webpage about these criminals at here.

And now, the letters...

First, a generic scam letter from what might be the fraud and corruption capital of the world, Nigeria:

Dear Sir,

I hope this letter will meet you in good stead. I am a close confidant of the Abacha Family, the former head of state of my Country Nigeria.

As a result of the trust and confidence that the family has in me. Mrs Maryam Abacha has mandated me to search for a reliable and trustworthy foreign partner, who will help receive some funds which she had in cash totalling US$85M into a personal, company or any reliable Bank account within or outside your country. This measure becime necessary as all the account of the family within and without Nigeria had bee frozen by the government in power. (For Further Information on the family's ordeal I will refer you to the web site of weekly Tell Magazine: www.Tellmagazine.com of November 23, 1998 page 25, and another edition of the same magazine of October 11. 1999, page 10 captioned the Tyrant's Son). Since the dead of the former ruler, the family has been on seige and virtually disposed of everything.

The money (US$85M) in question has however, been clearly moved in defaced form and deposited with a security company with network of branches in Africa, Europe and in different parts of America. The consignment of the defaced cash would be moved to any branch of the security compaany nearest to you. It may also interest you to note that the present government is running a policy of vendetta against the Abachas. While the eldest son-Mohammed Abacha is lanquishing in jail other member of the family are placed on house arrest their passport and vital documents seized and funds recovered from the family.

On behalf of the Abacha's family' I hereby crave your indulgence to receive this money from the security company. For your services, Mrs Abacha has offered you 25% commission at the end of the transaction. Please note, this transaction does not involve risk whatsoever, as you will have no dealing with my country. rather you will deal directly with the security company which at the moment keeps the money in its vault.

In your return mail, let me have your confidential telephone and fax numbers for further communication, upon receipt of your response, I will provide you with necessary details to enable you proceed and claim the fund from the security company.

Please treat this matter in a very private and confidential manner. Stay Blessed while I look forwrd to your kind response.

Best regards

Albert G. Williams

Another nitwit sends a very similar proposal:

Fax 234-1-7596447
E-mail: d7911414@yahoo.com
Lagos, Nigeria.

Dear Sir,

URGENT & STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

My name is Donald Presley. I am a Director in the Foreign Operations Department of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). I got your address from a friend and wish to use this opportunity to notify you of the existence of a certain amount we will like to transfer over - seas for the purpose of investments and importation of goods from your country.

A contract of Ninety - Five Million United States Dollars was awarded to a foreign firm in our ministry last year. The contract was to carry out turn- around maintenance, supply and installation of equipment, etc. We over - invoiced the contract amount by Forty - one Million Dollars. The contract has since been satisfactorily completed and the foreign firm fully paid off. But in the office file and paper work the company is still owed US$41M.

We are seeking your assistance and permission to transfer the said US$41M into your Bank account and after we will come over to your country to share the money with you. There is no risk involvement because some of those involved are directors in the NNPC, they know how best to effect the transfer and will come over there to collect their share. We sincerely need an honest person to work with and have agreed to share the money in the following percentages,65% will be for us who will effect the transfer, 30% will be for you whose account will be used to secure the money and 5% will be used to offset all local and International expenses incurred during the transaction.

If you are interested, send to us the following information by fax. Your Name, address, phone and fax numbers. The name of the Bank you will like us to deposit the money, the Account Name and Number, Bank Address, Phone and Fax Numbers. For obvious reasons, Please keep the business confidential and top secret. More information will be sent to you as soon as I hear from you.

Best Regards,

Donald Presley.

Next, a less common scam using Angola as the source:

Compliments,

With a humbled heart I commit myself this day to write and ask for your benevolence and kind consideration of my plight for assistance. I am making this contact on behalf of my family not minding the consequences but hoping that you would understand our predicament and come to our aid and assist us. I would also kindly apologize for any inconvenience or embarrassment this might cause your person, as we neither know each other personally nor have had any previous contact or correspondence.

I am Mrs. Comfort Sombongo, wife of deceased Colonel Bernard Sombongo, who was Deputy Director of Finance and Budgetary Control of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) rebel faction of Angola. He was execution by the orders of Dr. Jonas Savimbi on the 13th of April 2000 after an attempted defection from the UNITA movement. He was assistant to General Daniel Fuma both of whose activities centered mainly around the diamonds flown to Europe, through her connection in the London's De Beers Central Selling Organisation (CSO) to dealers contracted to UNITA. The revenue from these trades was basically used for the funding of UNITA's activities.

Considering the ongoing intensified civil war between UNITA and the government in Angola, my children and I had to relocate to a nearby town in Namibia in May of 2001 after my days of mourning were over through the assistance of some UN Officials where I am currently. From amongst my late husband's confidential documents as I went through them in August this year, I discovered a Certificate of Deposit with some other documents to the effect of a set of two boxes formally lodged with a Security Firm in Accra Ghana. A personally handwritten memo by my husband addressed to me indicated that he had ordered the Security Firm to have the boxes moved over to their Agent in a European country in February 2000 with order to have them released only upon presentation of relevant documents.

As also indicated in the memo, he stated that there was a total of US$27,500,000.00 (Twenty Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars only) as the real content of the boxes, which was done so as to disguise the real content thereof for security reasons.

I am now respectfully seeking your kind attention to the collection of the boxes containing U.S. $27.5 million from the Security Company's Agent in Europe. You will be entitled to a 20% percentage of the total sum as both compensation and also to cover any miscellaneous expenses incurred by you in the course of this transaction and the remaining therefore to be personally managed by you on my behalf. It is my sincere conviction that you will handle this transaction with absolute confidentiality, maturity and utmost sense of purpose.

I am therefore soliciting your assistance in terms of logistics and materials to collect the consignment from the Security Firm's Agent in Europe as the consignment have incurred a substantial amount of demurrage. All documents concerning the consignment are intact with me. Upon an approval response from you to assist me in this endeavor, as a fund manager for this fund, the evacuation process would immediately commence as all machinery are in place for a smooth transaction.

If you are capable and ready in collecting and investing this fund on my behalf, please contact me immediately through my alternative email address at msombongo@excite.com for immediate action.

Thanks for your anticipated understanding and cooperation.

Yours sincerely,

MRS. COMFORT SOMBONGO

Mrs. Comfort Sombongo can be reached (supposedly) by e-mail here or here.

Here's another scam with a slightly different twist. Not much imagination or creativity with these letters...

Dear Sir,

REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE

I am the eldest son of the late Aloys Muzalia Wakyebwa (a foremost human rights activist in the Democratic Republic of Congo). My father died in September 2000 as a result of the inhumane treatment meted out on him while in prison by the RCD Government of Goma and Rwanda allies. However, it is particularly important to mention here that before the death of my father, he was a successful businessman and his business empire includes real estate, exportation, and consultant services which cut across Africa. He was able to accumulate enough money both in local and foreign currencies through his business empire. His entire business has been on the upward trend over the past ten years, bringing his net profit during the period under review to twenty eight million U.S dollars ($28,000,000). This of course does not include his assets which are already running into millions of dollars. Having said all this, there was a twist in my father's success story following his confrontation with the RCD-Goma and Rwandam attack on the Congolese people. My father being a human right activist, criticized this attack. This infuriated them and he was clamped into jail until he died in September. Fortunately, before the arrest of my father, his attorney acting upon his instructions, transferred the sum of twenty -eight million U.S dollars ($28,000,000) from his local banks to a security firm. He did this for fear of this accounts being frozen. Following my father's death, the entire family decided to seek political asylum in Lome- Togo, as the eldest son of my late father and according to our tradition in Africa. I have now inherited all my father's wealth. I was then advised by my father's attorney (presently my attorney) to seek the assistance of someone based in your country to receive the amount in question being ($28,000,000). Since I have the intention of relocating my family there with the aim of settling down there and investing. I have decided to give you 10% of the $28,000.000. To finalize this transaction you will have to contact me via my e-mail. Further discussions will be centered on how and when we shall be meeting. I shall expect you to keep this transaction confidential due to the present circumstance of my family. I urgently await your response.

Yours faithfully

Anthony. Muzalia

Mr. Muzalia can be reached (supposedly) by e-mail here.

And they just keep coming, although the stories are really very dull. Here's a much more direct fraud, even less in the way of "creative" explanations, again from Nigeria:

Subject: Very urgent

Dear Sir,

Very urgent

I am pleased to get across to you for a very urgent and comfortable business proposal though I do not know you neither have I seen you before but my confidence was reposed on you when the chief executive of Lagos state chamber of commerce and industry handed me your contact for a confidential business. I am a manager of United Bank of Africa Plc (UBA) Mushin Branch, Lagos Nigeria. The intended business is thus, we had a customer, a foreigner (Turkish) resident in Nigeria, he was a contractor of one of the government parastatals. He has his account in my branch the sum of $29.8 million (Twwnty Nine Million eight hundred thousand (USD) unfortunately, the man died four years ago until today non of his next of kin has come collaboration with two other top officials we have covered up this account all this while. Now we want you being a foreigner to be fronted as one of his next of kin's, and forward your account and other relevant documents to be advised to you by us to attest to the claim. We will use our position to get all internal documentation's to back up the claims, the whole procedures will last only ten (10) working days to get the funds retrieved successfully without trace even in the future. Your response is only what we are waiting for as we have arranged all necessary things as soon as this message comes to you, kindly get back to me indicating your interest, then I will furnish you with the whole procedure to insure that the deal is successfully concluded. For your assistance we have agree to give you about twenty percent (20%) at the end of the transaction. It is hundred percent (100%)risk free and a great fortune. All correspondence towards this transaction will be through my private e-mail address for now. I await your earlier response.

Manager
UBA (MUSHIN BRANCH)

It's all very urgent and top secret, of course, so hurry up and contact Uba through his "private" Yahoo address at okemark1957@yahoo.com.

There must be a form letter making the rounds through the particular hovels in which these people live. In this next one you have the opportunity not only to garner 30% of $25.5 million, but you'll help fight war in Africa and the world. How magnanimous!

From: sorgen@onebox.com
Date: Thu, 17 Jan 02 07:14:27 EST
To: Friend@public.com
Subject: ASSISTANCE

MR. SORGI OGEN
EMAIL: sogen@adexec.com

Dear Sir,

It is my humble pleasure to write this letter irrespective of the fact that you do not know me. However, I came to know of you in my private search for a reliable and trustworthy person that can handle a confidential transaction of this nature in respect to our investment plans in real estate. Though I know that a transaction of this magnitude will make any one apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that all will be well at the end of the day.

Let me start by first, introducing myself properly to you. I am SORGI OGEN, a Branch Manager at one of the Zenith Commercial Bank Nigeria Plc, Lagos.

A foreigner, Late Nicholas Owen, a Civil Engineer/Contractor with the federal Government of Nigeria, until his death three years ago in a ghastly air crash, banked with us here at the Zenith Commercial Bank PLC, Lagos. He had a closing balance of USD$25.5M (Twenty five Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) which the bank now unquestionably expects to be claimed by any of his available foreign next of kin. Or, alternatively be donated to a discredited trust fund for arms and ammunition at a military war college here in Nigeria.

Fervent valuable efforts made by the Zenith Bank to get in touch with any of late Nicholas Owen's next of kin (he had no known wife and children) has been unsuccessful. The management under the influence of our chairman and board of directors, are making arrangement for the fund to be declared "UNCLAIMABLE " and then be subsequently donated to the trust fund for Arms and Ammunition which will further enhance the course of war in Africa and the world in general.

In order to avert this negative development. Myself and some of my trusted colleagues in the bank, now seek for your permission to have you stand as late Nicholas Owen's next of kin. So that the fund (USD$25.5M), would be subsequently transferred and paid into your bank account as the beneficiary next of kin through our overseas corresponding bank. All documents and proves to enable you get this fund have been carefully worked out and we are assuring you a 100% risk free involvement. Your share would be 30% of the total amount. While the rest would be for me and my colleagues for purchase of properties in your country through you/your Company.

If this proposal is OK by you, then kindly get to me immediately via my e-mail (sogen@adexec.com) furnishing me with your most confidential telephone, fax and e-mail, so I can forward to you the relevant details of this transaction.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation.

Best Regards.

MR, Sorgi Ogen Branch Manager, Zenith Comm. Bank Plc

This particular scammer can be reached, supposedly, via e-mail at sogen@adexec.com or sogen@onebox.com.

Again from the center of African governmental corruption, Nigeria, comes a letter from a Barrister (!) asking for help in the seemingly endless series of calamities that befall a nation run by crooks, thugs and thieves.

URGENT AND CONFIDENTIAL

FROM: BARRISTER CYRIL BELLO
LAGOS - NIGERIA

ATTN:THE DIRECTOR.

Dear Sir,

I am highly compelled upon strict recommendation, to write you this very urgent and confidential letter.

I am BARRISTER CYRIL BELLO the Lawyer to MRS. MARIAM ABACHA the wife of the late Nigerian Head ofState General Sani Abacha who died of heart - attack on Monday, the 8th of June, 1998.

Upon the sudden and tragic death of her husband,General Abacha, there has been an intensive but secret exercise by the present civilian government to close/freeze all his bank accounts both home and abroad as he was confirmed to have directed a certain percentage of oil proceeds totalling over US$ 500M (FIVE HUNDRED MILLION U. S. DOLLARS) into private bank accounts scattered in several countries of the world; accumulated during his 41/2 years of military rule. An issue that was already on press before his sudden death.

Since this exercise started few month ago, my client who is still in confinement has been in a very serious agony and mental stress as the entire family have virtually lost every including landed properties and major investments both home and aborad.

Luckily, there happens to be a special security account which my client deposited a sum of US$ 51,357, 000. 00 (FIFTY ONE MILLION, THREE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FIVE THOUSAND U. S DOLLARS). This fund in my company's name and is lodged in a Company Security Account Deposits (CSAD) with a West African Sub-Regional Bank. The fear there is that my client is one of the directors and invariably a major shareholder in the company, there exists a possible trace of this fund when once they finish with the accounts/assets principally owned by her husband, the Late Head of State himself.

It is therefore on this note that my client have taskfully delegated me to quickly source a trustworthy and reliable person/company in your country who will kindly help us to accommodate and safeguard this fund into his account to save us from the calamities of the present clamp on her husband (the ex president) bank accounts/assets all over the world. Note that we have concluded arrangements for the release of the aforementioned sum to your bank account within the shortest possible time as soon as we concluded talks. As a result of this and other higher levels of financial transaction which I would want to enter with you as made possible by the death of my client husband, I am suggesting that we schedule a meeting immediately.

Please endeavour to contact me immediately through my private and confidential or Email: cyrilalpa@yahoo.com whether or not this offer is acceptable to you, so as to enable me make other alternative contacts, on the contrary.

I await your urgent reply while believing you do understand the confidential nature of this transaction. When repling add your personal telecomunication and Fax number.

Best Regards,

BARRISTER CYRIL BELLO

This dork can be reached (supposedly) via e-mail at cyrilalpa@yahoo.com.

Yet another Nigerian confidence man writes, this time with a UK e-mail and telephone number. Ho Hum.

I write this mail to you courtesy of a recommendation about you through a consulting firm here in England, How ever; my intention about this business deal was not made known to him.

Please don't be embarrassed about this rather unorthodox method of contact. This is due to the urgency associated with this transaction. I am the chairman and co-ordinator of the NIGERIAN LIASION OFFICE. FOREIGN DEBTS CLEARANCE BUREAU UK. Also I am in the position to make a transfer of ($18.6 million dollars) hence I am contacting you about this deal.

We are privileged to be among the officials selected for payment clearance bureau. We are in charge of effecting debts on contract payment. In the line of our duties, we noticed so many irregularities in some beneficiaries' documentation for claim of contract payment arrears. In other words, what we request of you, if you accept this proposal is to forward us with some documents, which we will represent as original papers showing that you and your company is the ultimate beneficiary (i.e. that did the contract)

This will enable us to make the transfer, because we cannot transfer the amount to our own individual accounts. A foreign partner is highly required for a foreign firm did the execution of this exercise as the original contracts. Consequently, we find the transaction more comfortable and safe since is being executed outside my country Nigeria.

Your assistance in facilitating the transfer and conclusion of this transaction will determine the percentage accruable to you. The said percentage is assured and will be discussed in details on your arrival to Europe for a meeting.

I look forward to your prompt response, as it is imperative that the funds are transferred as soon as possible. I sincerely hope you are able to handle transaction of this magnitude with great confidentiality.

Yours truly

Mr John Dele Evans.

Mail address is
Johndeleevans@yahoo.co.uk
Tel/fax 01144-8454589678

I certainly have no desire to meet this person, whether in Europe or elsewhere, but you can reach him at Johndeleevans@yahoo.co.uk.

These Nigerian scams are always urgent. Certainly no one in Nigeria is going after these people, so the urgency isn't to evade the police. Here, a supposed director at a supposed major bank is unable to deal with an issue that is routinely handled by real persons at real banks. As if there are any unclaimed funds in Nigeria...

I wonder if "Tony Woods" (this letter) knew "Nicholas Owen" (see above), since they were both apparently extremely well-paid contractors with the Federal government of Nigeria.

There must be a form-letter making the rounds where you can just fill-in-the-blanks and send it out.

From: chidi ebere
Subject: YOUR OPINION

CONFIDENTIAL

FROM:IKE GODWIN
DEAR SIR,

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. I am IKE GODWIN a Director with UNION BANK NIGEIRA PLC, LAGOS (UBN). I came to know of you in my private search for a reliable and reputable person to handle this confidential transaction which involves the transfer of a huge sum of money to a foreign Bank Account requiring maximum confidence.

THE PROPOSITION

A foreigner, late engineer TONY WOOD, an Oil Merchant/Contractor with the Federal government of Nigeria, until his death three years ago in a ghastly air crash, banked with us here at UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC, Lagos, and had a closing balance of USD$38.5M (THIRTY EIGHT MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) which the bank now unquestionable expects it to be claimed by TONY's next-of-kin or alternatively be donated to a discredited Trust Fund for arms and ammunition at a military war college here in Nigeria. Fervent valuable efforts are being made by the Union Bank of Nigeria Plc to get in touch with any of the Wood’s family but proved to no avail.

It is because of the perceived possibility of not being able to locate late Engr. Tony Wood next-of-kin (he had no known wife or children) that the management under the influence of our Chairman and member of the board of Directors, retired Major General Kalu Ike Kalu, that an arrangement be made for the funds to be declared “UNCLAIMED” and subsequently be donated to the Trust Fund for Arms and Ammunition to further enhance the course of war in Africa and the world in general.

In order to avert this negative development, some of my trusted colleagues and I now seek your permission to have you stand as next-of-kin to late Engr. Tony Wood so that the funds USD$38.5M would be released and paid into your bank account as next-of-kin. All documents and proves to enable you get this fund will be carefully worked out and more so we are assuring you of a 100% risk free involvement. Your share stays while the rest would be for myself and my colleagues for investment purposes in your Country. We have agreed that, the funds will be shared thus, after it has been transferred into your account.

1. 30% of the money will go to you for acting as the beneficiary of the funds.

2. 10% will be set aside for reimbursement to both parties for any incidental expenses that may be incurred in the cose of the transfer.

3. 60% to us the originators of the transaction. If this proposal is OK by you and you do not wish to take undue advantage of the trust we hope to bestow on you and your Company, then kindly get to me immediately furnishing me with your confidential telephone, fax number and exclusive bank particulars so that I can use these information to apply for the release and subsequent transfer of the funds in your favour. But if you don't like the idea please keep it confidential.

Thank,
Yours faithfully,
IKE GODWIN

You can reach "Ike Godwin" (or "Chidi Ebere") at his silly Yahoo account in the UK at ike_godwin@yahoo.co.uk .

There sure are a lot of rich, dead consultants that once worked for the Nigerian goverment. Rich but stupid, since they all kept their money in Nigerian banks.

In this dull and unimaginative letter, with spelling errors and poor formatting intact, you can read about this urgent opportunity to avail yourself of some of the $15 million "Mr. Barry Kelly" left behind.

Dear Sir,

A REQUEST FOR BUSINESS COOPERATION.

I am Mr. Anthony Kassim, Bank Manager of National Fidelity Bank Limited, Lagos Branch.I have an urgent and very confidential business proposition for you.On June 6, 1997, an American Oil consultant/contractor with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr.Barry Kelly made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at US$15,000,000.00( Fifteen Million Dollars) in my branch.Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply.After amonth,we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employers, the Federal Ministry of Solid and Liquid Minerals that Mr. Barry Kelly died from an automobile accident.On further investigation, I found out that he died without making a WILL,and all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr. Barry Kelly did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. This sum ofUS$15,000,000.00 is still sitting in my Bank and the

interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will ever come forward to claim it as it stands by statute, at the expiration of 5(five) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Nigerian Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.

Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foriegner to stand in as the next of kin to Mr.Barry Kelly so that the fruits of this old man's labor will not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials.upon consideration of this proposal , I will like you to provide immediately the name and address that you intend to use for the preparation of the relevant probate documentation that will eperesent you as next of kin to Mr.Barry Kelly to achieve the requiste documentation ,we shall employ the service of two independent Attorneys for drafting and notarization of the WILL and to obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in your favor for the payment of the inheritance entitlement. Furthermore, you will be required to act independently as a Foreigner , next of kin and sole benefactor to the inheritance of Mr. Barry Kelly to claim this funds through any of the bank's Fiduciary Agents / offshore clearing house in Europe or Canada..

The money will be paid to you for us to share in the ratio of 65% for me and 35% for you.There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be done by the Attorney and my position as the Branch Manager guarantees the successful execution of this transaction. If you are interested, please reply immediately via the private email address below. Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant documents that will help you understand the transaction. please observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country.

Awaiting your urgent reply via my email:

Thanks and regards.
Anthony Kassim

You can reach "Anthony Kassim" in his squalid hideout via e-mail at anthonykassim@hotvoice.com.

Yep, this bonehead wants his "TOP SECRET" scam to be kept "CONFIDENTIAL."

From: jeffrey josiah
Subject: please treat as urgent

Dear sir,

First, I must solicit your confidence in this transaction, this is by virtue of its nature as being utterly CONFIDENTIAL and TOP SECRET. Though I know that a transaction of this magnitude will make any one apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that all will be well at the end of the day. We have decided to contact you due to the urgency of this transaction, as we have been reliably informed of your discreteness and ability in transactions of this nature. Let me start by first introducing myself properly to you. I am DR Jeffrey Josiah, a director with the Union Bank of Nigeria Plc. Lagos. I came to know of you in my private search for a reliable and reputable person to handle this confidential transaction which involves the transfer of a huge sum of money to a foreign account requiring maximum confidence. THE PROPOSITION:

A foreigner, Late Engineer Johnson Creek, an Oil Merchant/Contractor with the Federal Government of Nigeria, until his death four years ago in a ghastly air crash, banked with us here at Union Bank Plc. Lagos, and had a closing balance of US$30.5M (thirty Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) which the bank now unquestionably expects it to be claimed by any available foreign next-of-kin of the Late beneficiary or alternatively be donated to a discredited trust fund for arms and ammunition at a military war college here in Nigeria. Fervent valuable efforts are being made by the Union Bank to get in touch with any of the Creek family or relatives but proved to no avail. It is because of the perceived possibility of not being able to locate any of Late Engr. Johnson Creeks next-of-kin (he had no wife and children) that the management under the influence of our chairman and member of the board of directors, Retired Major General Kalu Uke Kalu, that an arrangement be made for the funds to be declared UNCLA! IMABLE and subsequently be donated to the Trust Fund for Arms and A mmunition to further enhance the course of war in Africa and the world in general. In order to avert this negative development, my trusted colleagues and I now seek your permission to have you stand as a next-of-kin to Late Engr. Johnson Creek so that the funds US$30.5M would be released and paid into your bank account as the beneficiary next-of-kin. All documents and proves to enable you get this fund will be carefully worked out and more so we are assuring you of a 100% risk free involvement. Your share stays while the rest would be for myself and my colleagues for investment purposes in your country. We have agreed that, the funds will be shared thus, after it has been transferred into your account:
1. 30% of the money will go to you for acting as the beneficiary of thefunds.
2. 10% will be set aside for reimbursement to both parties for any incidental expenses that may be incurred in the course of the transaction.
3.60% to us the originators of the transaction.

If this proposal is OK by you and you do not wish to take undue advantage of the trust, we hope to bestow on you and your company, then kindly get back to me immediately via my private Email for security reasons.

Furnish me with your most confidential telephone, fax number and exclusive bank particulars so that I can use these information to apply for the release and subsequent transfer of the funds in your favour. Thank you in advance for your anticipated co-operation. Yours faithfully,

DR JEFFREY JOSIAH Director,
UNION BANK PLC.

"Jeffrey Josiah" reports his e-mail as jeffreyjosiah1@yahoo.com
Yahoo, of course, is allowing this kind of criminal spam to continue.

More garbage arriving from these nitwits...

From: "DR DAVID OJINI"
Subject: IMPORTATION INTENT

REQUEST FOR CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS
ASSISTANCE/TRANSACTION..

Firstly, I must crave your indulgence, by virtue of this contact to you, to please go through this message, with all seriousness, and give it a very confidential dispostion. This is by virtue of its nature as being utterly confidential and top secret. A member of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (N.E.P.C.) who was part of the federal government delegation to your country during a trade exhibition gave your particulars to me. I have decided to seek a confidential operation with you in the execution of the deal described hereunder for the benefit of all the parties and hope that you keep it top secret because of the nature of the business. Within the ministry of petroleum resources where I work as a director of engineering and projects, and with the co-operation of four other very top officials, we have under our control as overdue contract payments, bills totaling Thirty One Million United States Dollars, which we want to transfer to a foreign account, with the assistance and co-operation of a reliable foreign individual account to receive the funds.

The source of the fund is as follows: during the last military government here in Nigeria which lasted about eleven months, government officials set up companies and awarded themselves various contracts which were grossly over-invoiced in various ministries. The present civilian government is not aware of the atrocities committed by their predecessors and as a result, we have a lot of such over invoiced contract payments pending which we have identified floating at the central bank of Nigeria ready for payment. However by virtue of our position as civil servants, we cannot acquire this money in our names. I was therefore delegated as a matter of urgency by my colleagues to look for an over seas partner into whose account we would transfer the sum of US$31,000,000.00 (THIRTY ONE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) hence we are writing you this letter.

Since the present civilian government is determined to pay foreign contractors debts owed so as to maintain an amiable relationship with foreign governments and non-government financial agencies. We have decided to include our bills for approval with the co-operation of some officials of the federal ministry of finance (F.M.F) and the central bank of Nigeria (C.B.N). We are seeking your assistance in providing us with a good company account or any other offshore bank account into which we can remit this money by acting our main partner and trustee or acting as the original contractor. This we can do by swapping of account information and changing of beneficiary and other pertinent information to apply for payment. By this act, we would be using your company information to apply for payment, and prepare letters of claim and job description on behalf of your company. This process would be an internal arrangement with the departments concerned.

I have the authority of my partners involved to propose that should you be willing to assist us in this transaction, your share as compensation will be us$6.2 million (20%), us$21.7 million (70%) for us and us$3.1 (10%) for taxation and miscellaneous expenses.We intend to use our share of the funds in importation of goods .

This transaction is closely knitted and in view of our SENSITIVE POSITION we cannot afford a slip, I assure you that this transaction is 100% risk free. We will avail you with our identities as regards our respective offices, when relationship is fully established and smooth operation commences. I am at your disposition to entertain any question(s) from you in respect of this transaction, so contact me immediately via my direct email for further information on the requirements and procedure. We are making arrangement for a confidential telephone number because we cannot afford to use our official telephone number because of the nature of this transaction .Please note that this transaction needs utmost confidentiality and your immediate response will be highly appreciated. I will expound further the necessary details that you need to know, when I have heard from you..

Thanks for your anticipated cooperation.

Yours Faithfully,
Dr Ojini

Yes, by all means contact him by his direct e-mail at daojini@lycos.com
Lycos, like Yahoo, allows these spammers to operate through their services. Mail to abuse@lycos.com and abuse@yahoo.com is typically ignored.

Here's one that is shorter and to the point but equally fraudulent.

From: "Robert Bello"
Subject: PROPOSAL

ROBERT BELLO
LAGOS-NIGERIA

DEAR FRIEND

PRIVATE PROPOSAL

A very good day to you.
We have an immediate business proposal that involves US$ 26,400,000. (Twenty Six Million,Four Hundred Thousand,United States Dollars) which we will like to invest with you in your country, Please do not hesitate to send me a response intimating me of your interest. Once I receive a message of interest from you, 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 7-14 banking days. Do not forget to contact me on the receipt of this message via my email address. I would also need you to send to me your confidential Telephone/Fax numbers and an alternate email address if the one used in reaching you is not confidential enough , This would be needed for the transaction.Please your confidentiality would be highly appreciated. I urgently await your response. If you are not interested and not capable please disregard this communication.

Best Regards,

ROBERT BELLO

Use small words to contact "Robert Bello" at rbello@mail.com.
Mail.com appears to be assisting in this scam.

These letters are so full of lies it's difficult to know where to start.

From: "GEORGE AZENRE"
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL

Dear Sir,

URGENT AND CONFIDENTIAL

I am Dr George Azenre a Director with the Federal Ministry of works and housing, and Chairman ADHOC committee set up by the Federal Government of Nigeria to review contracts awarded by the past Military Administrations. As a result of our investigation we discover that most of them are having excess balance after the settlement of the initial contractual sums.

However therefore, been mandated as a matter of trust by my colleagues in this committee to urgently look for an oversea partner into whose account we could transfer the sum of US$25.5M (Twenty Five Million, Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars Only).

As a matter of fact a partner in this transaction has made us to loose (US$ 5.million Dollars Only) through the hands of his American friend he introduced us to, for we have succeeded in transferring (US$5 million) out of US$ 25.5 into his account in U.S.A, we discouvered that the owner of this account was up to some mischief and has bluntly refused to comply with our initial agreement insisting that the balance of (US$ 20 Million) be paid into his bank account before disbursement will take place. I have lost confidence and trust in that American friend of his because if he could not compensate us for mere US$ 5 million is it when the balance of US$ 20.5 Million is transferred that we will be sure of our full share in the deal.

We therefore seek your assistance so that this remaining amount of (US$20.5 Million Dollars) can be speedy processed and fully remitted into your account within fourteen (14) working days.

We have tentatively agreed to disburse it as follows: 1) 25% to you for acting as the beneficiary of the fund.
2) 10% set aside for reimbursement as incidental expenses to both parties.
3) 65% to the concern officials.

To confide in you, all logistic and modalities have been worked out wit some top officials of the Ministry of Finance (FMF) and the Central Bank Of Nigeria to facilitate the smooth remittance of the amount into your account within fourteen (14) working days of receiving the following information from you:

1) Company's name and address
2) Telephone and fax numbers
3) Banks name, address and account number

This information will enable us make applications and lodge claims to the concerned Government Ministry and Agencies in favour of your company.

It is pertinent to state here that this transaction is entirely based on trust since this money is going to be paid into your account.

Please Acknowledge the receipt of this letter using the above mentioned e-mail address only for security reasons, I will send to you the whole detailed information on this transaction when I hear from you.

Thanks.

Your sincerely,
GEORGE AZENRE
EMAIL ADDRESS:georgeazenre@mail.com

At least this crook took the time to format his letter. "GEORGE AZENRE" has a spammer's address at mail.com. You can reach him at georgeazenre@mail.com

Directors and Doctors are overdone. Now someone is calling themselves a Senator.

From: "SENATOR JUDE FRED."
Subject: REQUEST/BUSINESS.

FROM: SENATOR JUDE FRED.. TELE: 234-1-7757381

URGENT REQUEST
Dear Sir,

I am making this venture proposal to you, as a reliable partner. I got your contact from your country business guide as a reliable person/company in a related area of my interest for investment.

The money I want to invest was acquired from the late Nigerian President (General Sanni Abacha) vault account, then I was his financial adviser. I kept this money with a Security Finance Company in EUROPE. The amount to invest is ($25.M)Twenty Five Million US Dollars.

Presently, I am a senator in the Nigerian Government. If you will like to assist me as a partner, then indicate your interest after which we shall both discuss on the modalities. All other information relating to the presence of the funds will be revealed to you as we progress on.

I will like my proposal to be kept confidential as regards to what I explained above and you can reach me urgently on my e-mail. Please indicate your direct telephone and fax number when replying this business proposal.

Bye and God Bless,

SENATOR JUDE FRED.

This fine Nigerian citizen can be reached at senatorjudefred@hotmail.com

Another "Doctor" is looking to scam someone.

From: "Dr. Victor Ige." (victor_martins@inbox.lv)
Subject: NEEDED YOUR HELP

FROM THE DESK Dr. Victor Ige

Dear Sir,

I am taking liberty anchored on strong desire to ask for your assistance on a business opportunity. Your consent and urgent attention will greatly be desired, devoid of apprehensions .

I am Dr. Victor Ige, first son of the Late Attorney General of the federation/minister of Justice under the Present Democratic Government of President Olusegun Obasanjo, my Late father whom was assassinated on the 23rd of December 2001 by the assailant's bullets in our Residential home in Ibadan-Nigeria. Untill now no substantiated arrests have been made but accusing fingers have been pointed on his political rivals. No doubt is death has some political undertone.

With every hope and assurance my family secret which I am about disclosing to you and which forms the basis of this business transaction will be held at utmost secrecy and confidencial.

The sum of Forty Five million United States Dollars USD$ 45million dollars belonging to my late father was kept in a private Finance security Vault by me in a near by country which I will disclose to you as we proceed in this transaction. Thus, advised by my father's attorney to change the direction of some of the fund because the present Government will be will be interested to scrutunize my father's account and then probe him like that in the case of the late head of state and commander in chief of the Armed forces,late general Sani Abacha whose account was frozen and brought the entire family to a standstill.

We Please Solicit your help to secure this whooping amount, by providing an account in any part of the world preferably Europe for onward instant accreditation.Note,I've concluded all arrangement on how the funds would be transfer without any risk. In exchange for your assistance and cooperation you will be entitle to a reasonable percentage of the money after you have claimed the money. Our entire family will remain grateful if you save us from this perceived doom and starvation by ensuring that this money is successfully transferred. In this regards, kindly send your telephone and fax numbers to enable me communicate you incase you require more information from me. You can also contact me through my other email address (dr_victorige@inbox.lv) for more details.
Awaiting your response,

Sincerely Yours

Dr. Victor Ige.

For the family.

Please contact this "sincere" person for more information at dr_victorige@inbox.lv.