Nigerian Scams
I
got an email the other day which I immediately deleted, but when
a friend of mine got the same one, I decided I need to tell you
about it.
I
received an email which requires an immediate response to a personal
telephone number from a Doctor in Nigeria. The 'doctor' needs
a middle man to facilitate the transfer of many millions of dollars
and you end up with 20 percent. Twenty percent of 60 million
is still 12 million... Wow!... that is certainly enough to get
one's attention !
The
first iota of concern hit me when the 'Doctor' had trouble had
trouble spelling 'sixty' in Sixty Million. Well, you know these
billionaires... they all have trouble with spelling... particularly
the ones from Nigeria...
I
don't need bother you with all the details... but you know the
old saying 'if it seems too good to be true' it probably is.
But this one is so outlandish, it's only good for a laugh. I
particularly enjoyed the reference to ' President Olusegun Obansanjo '. Yeah, we all know him... don't we ...?
Am I delusional, or does his kind of name sound like Loose Gun
Banjo ?
For
your enjoyment, I have reprinted the letter here so that you
can share the joke with all of us... Remember... Buyer beware
!!!...... Or anyone beware !!!
Date:
Wed, 9 Aug 2000 04:44:15 -0700 (PDT) From: DANLADI PATRICK
Subject:
URGENT REPLY To: marybeth@unbounded.com ----------------------
PLEASE
KINDLY COMMUNICATE VIA MY TELEPHONE NUMBER 234-1-4705028 AND
FAX NUMBER 234-1-7590440 BECAUSE COMMUNICATION VIA EMAIL IS INSECURE
FOR THIS DEAL. Dear Sir, We wish to solicit your assistance to
provide us with a solution to a money transfer of Sity Million
United States Dollars (US$60M).
I
got your contact through my in-law who works
with Ministry of External Affairs in Nigeria and a careful study
of your business activities confirms that you are the one we
need. We are members of the special committee newlyinstituted
by the present civilian administration of President Olusegun
Obansanjo. Our duty is to review all contracts awarded to foreign
firms/contractorsfrom the ministry of petroleum from 1993 to
May 28th 1999.
It
may interest you to know that most of the contracts awarded were
over invoiced or inflated. One of such contract has been identified.
The said contract was originally executed by an Italian based
firm (Straberg ItalianoSpa) in (1996), to supply 250,000 monax
turbine polypropylene plants and 150,000 bpsd for kaduna refinery.
Pipeline reconstruction and computer optimization for plants
"A" to Kaduna refinery, as part of the measure taken
to aid the turn around maintenance to recoup the almost collapsedrefineriesin
Nigeria.
The
total amount approved by the then military government was put
at $126,000.000. 00M USD. The actual amount used for executing
the contract was estimated to be $186,000.000.00M USD, which
has since been paid to the foreign contractor. The remaining
$60,000.000.00M USD was inflated. The over inflated amount is
lying in one of the country's apex bank (CBN) escrow account,
waiting to be dispatchedtoadesignated account.
More
information shall be made known to you upon the positive confirmation
from your good self that you are willing to assist us in the
completion of the understated proposal. Secondly, we need the
name of your choice company and address- Tel/fax numbers. We
shalluse this information to prepare a deed of transferfrom the
original contractor subletting part of the contract to your company.
By doing so, your company will be created as artificial contractor
and thus can lay claim to the inflated amount. My colleagues
and I have agreed to compensate the owner of the account used
for this transaction with 20% of the total amount remitted. We
shall keep 70% and 10% will be reserved for taxes and other miscellaneous
expenses.
We
intend to consummate this transaction within the shortest possible
time based on your cooperation and support.
CHANCES:
The chances of success is sure, having succeeded in moving US
$5M to an account in Hong Kong,save for the mischief of the account
owner, we would have been through with this project. Besides,we
have the support of colleagues from other renowned Government
departments, our chances of success is as good as gold.
ADVICE:
This project demands mutual support, commitment, confidentiality
and trust. Delay is dangerous. Therefore, we desire consistent
and purposeful participation as we thread the part of greatness.
Confidentiality is our watchword,mutual trust is our beacon.
Endeavor to remain in steady contact and send a fax on my fax
number 234-1-7590440 to me to acknowledge the receipt of this
correspondence. Call me as a matter of urgency, on my Telephone
number 234-1-4705028 upon receipts of this message for further
verbal clearification. I honestly assure you that this transaction
is 100% risk-free.
Best
regards. DR. Patrick Danladi.
It
might look more credible if he included his address... Don't
You Think So ?
I got another one
the other day...