I receive a lot of inquiries from other countries about my miniature cattle and so did not think it odd to get an email from Nigeria. In fact I spoke for some time with a Nigerian as I was exhibiting at the Calgary Stampede and of course he took my brochures, so again this did not seem too weird. I responded to the email. and then went searching the internet and found your site (like I said before ........great job). Anyway, they emailed me back and I thought you might be interested.

From: "Bello Giwa" [giwa_211@yahoo.com]
To: Kindly Contributor
Sent: Wednesday, December 20, 2000 9:07 AM
Subject: Attn.: Kindly Contributor : Request for Assistance

From:
DR. PAUL B. GIWA
Director, Project Implementation,
National Economic Planning Commission,
Falomo Office Complex, Ikoyi - Lagos.

It is my great pleasure in writing you this letter on behalf of myself and my colleagues.

Your particulars were given to me by a member of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) who was at the Federal Government Delegation to your country during a trade exhibition. I have decided to seek a confidential cooperation with you in the execution of the deal described here for the benefit of all parties involved and hope that you will keep it confidential because of the nature of the business and the personalities involved.

Within the National Economic Planning Commission where I work as the Director, Project Implementation and with the cooperation of four other top officials, we have in our possession as overdue payment bills totaling Eighteen Million, Three Hundred and Sixty Thousand U.S. Dollars (US$18,360,000.00) which we want to transfer abroad with the assistance and cooperation of a trusted foreign firm or individual who will receive the said fund on our behalf into any account provided to receive such funds. We are handicapped in this deal because the Civil Service code of Conduct does not allow public servants like us to operate offshore account, hence your importance in the whole transaction.

The amount (US$18.360M) represents some percentage of the total contract value executed on behalf of my Ministry by a foreign contracting firm which we the officials over-invoiced deliberately. Though the actual contract cost have been paid to the original contractor, leaving the balance in the tune of the said amount which we have gotten approval to remit by Telegraphic Transfer (T.T) to foreign bank account you will provide by filing in an application through my Ministry for the transfer of rights and privileges of the former contractor to you.

Since the present new civilian government of my country is determined to pay every foreign contractor all debts owed so as to maintain good relationship with foreign government and non-government financial agencies, we have decided to include our bill for approvals with the cooperation of some officials from the all the government Ministries which will be involved in the payment processes. We are seeking your assistance in providing a vital account into which we can remit this money by acting as our main partner and trustee or acting as the original contractor. This we can do by swapping of account and changing of beneficiary and other forms of documentation upon application for claim to reflect the payment and approvals to be secured on behalf of you. This processes being an understanding with the principal trustee of the original contractor and with the consent of the original contractor.

My colleagues and I have agreed to pay you 30% of the money to be transferred for your effort should you be willing to assist us in the transaction and 60% will be for us to share. We are setting aside 10% for the general expenses that might come up during the process of concluding this transaction.

The business is 100% safe on your part, but you must treat it with utmost secrecy and confidentiality; Do not inform your bankers yet unless instructed by us. You will do that after we, at this end, must have secured the necessary documents to back up the transfer. Also, your area of specialization as an Agricultural expert who is knowledgeable in agricultural business will not be a hindrance to the successful execution of this transaction but will be an advantage to us after the conclusion of the transfer because you will be the one to advice us on investing the funds in your country after we might have retired. I have reposed my confidence in you and hope that you will not disappoint me.Send your response on this e-mail address and/or bellogiwa_2003@yahoo.com to indicate your willingness in assisting us so that I can give you futher details steps involved that we have mapped out to achieve this objective. After your first response by email, I will supply you with my direct telephone and fax numbers through which you can always get across to me. Endeavour to include your your most direct and private telephone and fax numbers through which we can get across to you any time of the day. This is vital for confidential reasons.

From: "Bello Giwa" [giwa_211@yahoo.com]
To: Kindly Contributor
Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2000 3:49 AM
Subject: Re: Attn.: Kindly Contributor : Request for Assistance

Yes I understand the type of business you are into. Your type of business will not be a hinderance to assisting us as nobody here in Nigeria is interested in that because we at this end will take care of those detail. What is important is your providing us with a good account where the money can be transfered to. The paper work to achieve that will be undertaken by us at this end.

If you are willing to assist us, please email me your direct telephone number so that I can have a heart to heart discussion with you on this project.

I am in receipt of your recent request for assistance and cooperation. I do however, believe you have been given misleading details of my operation here in Canada. I am a breeder of Miniature Hereford Cattle with only about fifty head and 7 head of Arabian horses. Although the numbers are small, Miniature Hereford Cattle are rare in Canada (under 500 head). I have been one of the first breeders (starting up in 1994) and export frozen embryos and semen internationally from this genetic pool. I will sometimes broker for other breeders. This is the extent of my business. I am neither a contractor or sub contractor in any other area.

I believe now that I have given you the details of my business you can in fact see how unsuitable I am for helping you. If you should, however, require my assistance in purchasing Miniature Hereford genetics I would be delighted to help you. Sincerely, (Kindly Contributor)

Dear Mr. Giwa:
I guess I was trying to be polite, but now I will be a little less subtle. I run a business founded on honesty and integrity and what you suggest is both illegal and dishonest. Please do not contact me again in this regard.
Thank you. (Kindly Contributor)

It just gets weirder and weirder...