A variation on the NNPC/ripped-off-by-"Patrice Miller" letter, but too pompous to ignore and apparently involves members of numerous government agencies who were savvy enough to steal millions of dollars but somehow not savvy enough to manage to move it overseas.

From: "pat solo uche" (pat_uche1@eudoramail.com)
To: (Kindly Contributor)
Sent: November 25, 2000 1:59:51 AM GMT
Subject: BUSINESS PROPOSAL

MAY I CRAVE YOUR INDULGENCE TO OPEN THIS BUSINESS DISCUSSION BY A FORMAL LETTER OF THIS SORT. IT IS PERTINENT THAT BUSINESS OF THIS MAGNITUDE SHOULD HAVE COMMENCED PROPERLY WITH A FORMAL MEETING OF YOU AND US TO ENABLE US KNOW OURSELVES, HAVE A FORE KNOWLEDGE OF THE NATURE OF THE BUSINESS, DISCUSS AND ACQUAINT OURSELVES WITH THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND FUNCTIONS OF PARTIES CONCERNED, AND APPROPRIATE SHARES ACCORDINGLY. HOWEVER, FOR TIME FACTOR, CONFIDENTIALITY AND PERSONALITY OF PEOPLE INVOLVED HERE IN NIGERIA, WE CHOSE THIS APPROACH FOR THE REMITTANCE OF FIFTEEN MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND U.S DOLLARS (US$15.5M), PLEASE BEAR WITH US FOR MAKING THE INITIAL CONTACT THROUGH E-MAIL. BUT MY PARTNERS ARE INSISTING FOR A MEETING INORDER NOT TO FALL INTO A WRONG HAND AGAIN.

WE ARE MEMBERS OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE FOR BUDGET AND PLANNING OF THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM THIS COMMITTEE IS PRINCIPALLY CONCERNED WITH CONTRACT APPRAISAL AND THE APPROVAL OF CONTRACTS IN ORDER OF PRIORITIES AS REGARDS CAPITAL PROJECTS OF THE PAST MILITARY GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA WITH OUR POSITIONS WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY SECURED FOR OURSELVES THE SUM OF FIFTEEN MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND U.S DOLLARS (US$15.5M). THE AMOUNT WAS ACCUMULATED THROUGH UNDECLARED WINDFALL SALES OF CRUDE OIL DURING THE GULF WAR.

HENCE TOGETHER WITH SOME OF THE TOP OFFICIALS OF THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION, THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA. WE PLAN TO TRANSFER THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY FIFTEEN MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND U.S DOLLARS (US$15.5M) INTO AN OVERSEAS ACCOUNT BY AWARDING A NON EXISTING CONTRACT FROM MY MINISTRY (NNPC). TO THIS EFFECT I DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU AND ASK FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE.

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU SIR, IS TO PROVIDE A VERY VITAL ACCOUNT IN WHICH THE FUNDS WILL BE TRANSFERED. MY COLLEAGUES AND I HAVE AGREED TO COMPENSATE THE OWNER OF THE ACCOUNT USED FOR THIS TRANSACTION WITH 30% OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT REMITTED. WE SHALL KEEP 60% AND REMAINING 10% RESERVED FOR TAXES AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES.

IT MAY INTEREST YOU TO KNOW THAT LAST TWO YEARS A SIMILAR TRANSACTION WAS CARRIED OUT WITH ONE MR. PATRICE MILLER, THE PRESIDENT OF CRAINE INTERNATIONAL TRADING CORPORATION AT NUMBER 135 EAST 57TH STREET, 28TH FLOOR, NEW YORK 10022 WITH TELEPHONE NUMBER (212) 308-7788 AND TELEX NUMBER 6731689. AFTER THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN BOTH PARTNERS IN WHICH HE WAS TO TAKE 20% OF THE MONEY WHILE THE REMAINING 80% FOR US. WITH ALL THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS SIGNED THE MONEY WAS DULY TRANSFERRED INTO HIS ACOCUNT ONLY TO BE DISAPPOINTED ON OUR ARRIVAL IN NEW YORK, AND WE WERE RELIABLY INFORMED THAT MR. PATRICE MILLER WAS NO LONGER ON THAT ADDRESS WHILE HIS TELEPHONE AND TELEX NUMBERS HAVE BEEN REALLOCATED TO SOMEBODY ELSE THAT IS HOW WE LOST US$8M TO MR. PATRICE MILLER.

THIS TIME AROUND WE NEED A MORE RELIABE AND TRUSTWORTHY PERSON, A REPUTABLE COMPANY TO DO BUSINESS WITH HENCE THIS LETTER TO YOU, SO, IF YOU CAN PROVE YOURSELF TO BE TRUSTED AND INTERESTED IN THIS DEAL THEN WE ARE PREPARED TO DO BUSINESS WITH YOU. WHAT WE WANT FROM YOU IS THE ASSURANCE THAT YOU WILL LET US HAVE OUR SHARE IF THE INFLATED AMOUNT OF FIFTEEN MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND U.S DOLLARS (US$15.5M) IS TRANSFERRED INTO YOUR ACCOUNT. IF THIS PROPOSAL SATISFIES YOU, THEN REPLY TO THIS MAIL URGENTLY SO THAT WE CAN NEGOTIATE THE MODALITIES INVOLVED.

PLEASE SIR, KINDLY TREAT AS VERY URGENT AND STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL, I HONESTLY ASSURE YOU THAT THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% RISK FREE.

I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR URGENT REPLY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXPECTED CO-OPERATION AND GOD BLESS YOU.

PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE NOT INTERESTED, SO THAT WE CAN URGENTLY LOOK FOR ANOTHER PARTNER.

Don't you fall into a wrong hand either!