Different versions of this '419' advance fee fraud scam push different emotional or logical buttons. Some appeal to your sense of charity, others to your chivalry, some play on your desperation or your ignorance of how certain financial procedures work. These are all different 'formats'.
The format below is a straight-up appeal to criminality.
Someone posing as a civil servant is asking for your help to embezzle imaginary public funds.
The word KICKBACKS is bolded and capitalized by your humble editor to make it clear that you are being invited to do something illegal.
Some people don't seem to get it, or don't want to get it.
The illegally acquired money on offer does not exist. But that is (almost) beside the point.
If you get ripped off by these guys it is because you agreed to become involved in what you thought or should have realized was theft.
Having said all that, this letter is beautiful in its crookedness.
From: Saleem Abdulsalami Abubakar
<mailto:ama@alpha.linkserve.com>ama@alpha.linkserve.com>
To: (Kindly Contributor)
Date: 27 August 2000 01:50
Subject: CORDIAL
from: Saleem Abdulsalami Abubakar, Dr.
New Garden Road, Plot 17/19, Surulere-Lagos.
Tel.: 234-90-4073962
Fax: 234-90-4073967
e-mail: <mailto:salkazeem@excite.com>salkazeem@excite.com
When I picked up your contact, I have this interest in going through your profile though not enough in giving me your detailed information to access your capability of a cordial relationship. But after going through your profile with due deliberation, I deem it wise to contact you directly and seek your assistance in a business dealing that will be of mutual benefit to both of us. Though not minding the consequence but hoping that you would understand the complication on my side and the need for your kind assistance. Please excuse the manner of approach. But I think it is more convenient and discreet to contact you through this means.
I held a very key position in the oil sector during the last military regimes in Nigeria which afforded me the privilege to acquire the total sum of US$53M. This amount came as a result of several KICKBACKS I received in collaboration with Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, the then Chief Security Officer to our Late Head of States and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces, General Sani Abacha (may his soul rest in peace), from some Overseas firms for oil licence and government contracts which I generously gave to them in return. I was able to deposit this money with an Insurance Company (IC) in Nigeria under a Coded Security Deposit.
With the recent present situation in the country in which my collaborator-Major Al-Mustapha, and others are undergoing trial for Alleged involvement in the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, wife of late Chief M.K.O. Abiola, during the military regime, coupled with the probe panel set up by the new democratic government to investigate the accounts of all retired officers who held public offices during the military regimes in Nigeria. I cannot on my own transfer this money Overseas nor even attempt to bank same here. I am therefore soliciting for your assistance to receive this money on my behalf by claiming ownership of funds so that we could move them out of the country to your specified Overseas Bank Account for disbursement and subsequent investment in your line of business. Please call or fax at my Tel.: 234-90-4073962, Fax: 234-90-4073967 so that we can negotiate on the terms of our partnership. Besides, I have decided to give you 25% of the total sum after the successful transfer of this money to your account.
Again, opportunities currently exists in our petroleum industry for the lifting of petroleum, natural gas, blonde crude etc to interested Overseas buyers. We may be interested to embark on this project as part of our investment proceeds, but it should be on a later basis i.e. after your un-alloyed assistance in the successful transfer of this funds.
Please Sir, I am trusting you will not betray the trust and confidence I have reposed in you. I am only trying my best not to be noticed by my government. Life in detention is never the best, and I do not wish to join Mustapha and other there. Rather I grave your support to facilitate the migration of his wife and two kids (whom I have taken reponsibility of their warefare) as soon as I succeed on moving our fund to an-un-fettered environment.
Kindly treat this with utmost confidence and trust, and be rest assured of the safety of your involvement. Please acknowledge receipt of this message and your willingness to assist so that we can agree in terms and in principles. Myself and family look forward to meeting with you in the near future.
Best Regards,
Saleem Abdulsalami A. (Dr.)
Tel.: 234-90-4073962
Fax: 234-90-4073967
e-mail: salkazeem<mailto:abubakarim@yahoo.co.uk>@excite.com
And there's more: