It’s actually been quite a while since I last received a true Nigerian 419 scam mail. And this is almost too good to be true. Allcaps, a 30% share of over 30 million US dollars… the only anomaly is the Belgian e-mail address, but who am I to be picky about such small details after receiving such a gem?
Here goes:
DEAR SIR
I GUESS THIS LETTER MAY COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE SINCE I HAD NO PREVIOUS CORRESPONDENCE WITH YOU.I AM THE CHAIRMAN TENDER BOARD OF INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC) I GOT YOUR CONTACT IN THE COURSE OF MY SEARCH FOR A RELIABLE PERSON WITH WHOM TO HANDLE A VERY CONFIDENTIAL TRANSACTION INVOLVING THE TRANSFER OF FUND VALUED THIRTY MILLION TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS ($30.2M) TO A SAFE FOREIGN ACCOUNT. THE ABOVE FUND IN QUESTION IS NOT CONNECTED WITH ARMS OR DRUGS. IT IS THE PRODUCT OF OVER INVOICE ON CONTRACT AWARDED IN 2002 BY INEC, TO A FOREIGN COMPANY FOR THE SUPPLY OF ELECTORAL MATERIALS THAT WAS USED FOR 2003 ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA.
THE CONTRACT HAS LONG BEEN EXECUTED AND PAYMENT OF THE ACTUAL CONTRACT AMOUNT MADE TO THE FOREIGN CONTRACTOR LEAVING THE BALANCE OF $30.2M U.S DOLLARS IN A DORMANT ACCOUNT WHICH MY COLLEAGUES AND I NOW WANT TO TRANSFER OUT OF NIGERIA INTO A RELIABLE FOREIGN ACCOUNT FOR OUR PERSONAL USE. AS CIVIL SERVANTS, WE DO NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY FOREIGN ACCOUNT MACHINERY TO SUCCESSFULLY HANDLE THIS TRANSACTION. THERFORE IT BECOMES NECESSARY TO SOURCE FOR A FOREIGN COMPANY/INDIVIDAUL WITH THE CAPABILITY TO ACT AS THE ORIGINAL BENEFICIARY OF THE CONTRACT.
MY DEAR, IT IS A GOOD THING THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS ENDORSED THE BILL PASSED BY THE SENATE AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY THAT ALL FOREIGN CONTRACTORS OWED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA SHOULD BE PAID, WE WILL SEIZE THIS GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO PURPORT YOU AS ONE OF THE CONTRACTORS TO BE PAID. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THIS PROPOSAL KINDLY MAIL ME YOUR LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE ALONG WITH YOUR DIRECT TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS, BUT IF YOU CANNOT FOR ANY REASON HANDLE THIS TRANSACTION I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU CAN LINK ME TO A RELIABLE AND TRUST WORTHY PERSON IN WHICH CASE YOUR INTEREST WILL BE PROPERLY PROTECTED. MEANWHILE, MY COLLEAGUES AND I HAVE DECIDED TO SHARE THE MONEY IN THE FOLLOWING RATIO: 60% FOR MYCOLLLEAGUES AND I, THEN 30% FOR YOU THE ACCOUNT OWNER AND 10% FOR ALL LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXPENSES THAT MAY ARISE IN THE COURSE OF THIS TRANSACTION. FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT THIS TRANSACTION WILL BE DISCUSSED IN THE SUBSEQUENT CORRESPONDENCE.THIS TRANSACTION IS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL BUT 100% RISK FREE. NOTE ALSO THAT THE PARTICULAR NATURE OF YOUR BUSINESS DOES NOT MATTER TO THIS TRANSACTION AND THIS TRANSACTION IS EXPECTED TO BE CONCLUDED WITHIN 5 WORKING DAYS SINCE ALL LOCAL CONTACTS AND ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN PROPERLY PERFECTED FOR A SMOOTH AND SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF THIS TRANSACTION. MY ALTERNATIVE EAMIL ADDRESS IS drwilliamsado@sify.com.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
DR WILLIAMS ADO