MR. JOHN ABAH.
NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION.(NNPC)
TEL: 00 874 762 018 769
FAX: 00 874 762 018 770
TEL/FAX: 234-1-2880210
DATE: 13th SEPTEMBER, 1999

DEAR SIR,
I AM A DEPUTY DIRECTOR IN THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION (NNPC). I HAVE BEEN DELEGATED BY MY COLLEAGUES TO SEEK THE ASSISTANCE OF A RELIABLE FOREIGN COMPANY OR INDIVIDUAL, INTO WHOSE BANK ACCOUNT, WE CAN TRANSFER THE SUM OF US$30.5M (THIRTY MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS).

The sum arose from the delibarate over-invoicing of contract bills of some contracts awarded by my corporation during the administration of the former military leader, General Sanni Abacha who died on 8th June, 1998 and since then it has been lying in a suspense current account of my corporation with the central bank of Nigeria. However, the current favourable political/economic climate of the country without any hitch   [ huh? ]   this is because the present civilian regime in a bid to seek foreign recognittion and credibility resolved to liquidate all outstanding debts owed to foreign contractors who executed contracts here between 1990 to 1998. To this effect, a five man board of enquiry which a colleague of mine happens to be a member was set up to inquire, recommend and approve payments to be forwarded to central bank of Nigeria for remittance.

a friend who was formally residing in your country made our addres avalaible to us.   [ isn't that nice? else they wouldn't know how to get home ]   He assured us of your company's reputability and capability in business transactions. However, he does not know the details and nature of the impending transaction. This assurance gave us confidence to contact you for this particular transaction, and i believe it would be of mutual benefit to both of us.

we have put in motion the machinery for the take off of this transaction and further actions will commence immediately we hear from you. We plan to forward your name to this committee as soon as we receive your acceptance. We have agreed that after the transfer of the money into your account, you shall be entitled 25% of the total sum. My colleagues and i shall take 70% while 5% has been mapped out to reimburse all local and international expenses that may be incurred in the course of the transaction.

Ok stop here, this is important. What you need to know, if you didn't read the main page is that the 5% is what's really at issue. It is really that 5% (or some arbitrary sprinklings of $5k or $10k here and there) which you will LOSE if you actually believe this stuff and get involved with them. They will keep asking for chunks of $ to bribe people. There IS NO $30.5million, ok? I don't like to insult the reader's intelligence, but I actually get letters from people wondering if they should pursue it. NO! Like someone on another continent, who apparently can't spell, would really contact you out of the blue and try to enlist your help in defrauding his government of many millions, oh yes, and using a FORM LETTER! Wake up! Ok, please continue.

the nature of your business is not particularly relevant for the succes of this transaction.   [ a good thing, since the recipient is a hardworking clerk in a store ]   All we require is your willingnes to co-orperate and assurance that our own share will be given to us when this money arrives your account. All necessary precautions have been taken, to ensure a no risk situation on the sides of both parties and it is believed that this transaction will take 10 working days to finalize.

Please if this proposal is acceptable to you, contact me on the above satellite phone and fax numbers. The reason for use of satelitte phone and fax is to maintain absolute confidentiality. Should you have any question, feel free to contact me on the same numbers. If however, you are not interested in this proposal, kindly let us know   [ :-) ]   and do not disclose the contents of this letter to a third party. Please include your private telephone and fax numbers   [ :-))) ]   while replying this letter for easy communications.