Click here for sample #1 of the Nigerian Letter email scam.
Click here for sample #2 of the Nigerian Letter email scam.
Click here for sample #3 of the Nigerian Letter email scam.

Jim's Note: this letter is interesting because it acutally uses Nigeria as the country of origin.

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Lagos, Nigeria.

ATTN.: THE MANAGING DIRECTOR / CEO.
Dear Sir,

REQUEST FOR URGENT (CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP OF THE TRANSFER OF US$18,560,000.00 (EIGHTEEN MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED AND SIXTY THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY).

I hope this letter will not embarrass you since we have not had any previous communication. I got your reference through a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) who was at the Federal Government Delegation to your country during a trade exhibition and I went further to have it confirmed by your country’s trade department under private inquiry that is not related to my aim of writing you this letter.

I, on behalf of my other colleagues from different Federal Government of Nigeria owned parastatals decided to solicit your assistance as regards the transfer of the above stated amount into your bank account. This fund arose from the over-invoicing of various contracts awarded in my parastatals to certain foreign contractors some time ago.

We as holders of official positions in various parastatals, were mandated by this new civilian government to scrutinize all payments made to certain foreign contractors by the past military government and we discovered that some of the contracts they executed were grossly over-invoiced, either by omission or commission. Also we discovered that the sum of $28,560,000.00 (Twenty Eight Million, Five Hundred and Sixty Thousand United States Dollars Only) was lying in a suspense account, although the foreign contractors were fully paid their entitlements after executing the said contracts.

We all agreed that the over-invoiced amount be transferred (for our own use) into a bank account provided by a foreign partner, as the code of conduct of the Federal Civil Service does not allow us to operate foreign accounts.

However, we have succeeded in transferring some of these money, precisely US$10,000,000.00 (Ten Million United States Dollars Only) into a foreign account in GENEVA (SWITZERLAND) last week. But unfortunately, the provider of the account has severed all forms of contacts with us as he has refused to adhere to our earlier mutual agreement insisting that the total amount be paid into his nominated bank account before disbursement will take effect. If for US$10M (Ten Million United States Dollars Only) we are not compensated, how can one guarantee full compensation on remittance of the balance of US$28.560M (Twenty-Eight Million, Five Hundred and Sixty Thousand United States Dollars Only).

We are therefore seeking your assistance based on the balance amount of US$18.560M, which can be speedily processed and fully remitted into your nominated bank account. On successful remittance of the fund into your account, you will be compensated with 20% of the amount for assistance and services and 5% set aside for expenses contingency.

This transaction is closely knitted and in view of our SENSITIVE POSITION we cannot afford a slip, I assure you that this transaction is 100% risk free. We will avail you with our identities as regards our respective offices, when relationship is fully established and smooth operation commences.

I am at your disposition to entertain any question(s) from you in respect of this transaction, so contact me immediately through the above telephone and fax numbers for further information on the requirements and procedure.

Please note that the DEAL needs utmost confidentiality and your immediate response will be highly appreciated and we will use our own share of the money to establish a lucrative firm in your country.

Yours truly,
ALHAJI ATIKU DEOLA

Jim's Note: this letter is unusual in that it uses the broken English found in many of these types of scam emails, but does not use a foreign sounding name (at least one that would sound foreign here in the USA. Although I don't know very many people with Smith for a first name. The other odd thing about this letter is that it flat out states that the sender is trying to steal the bulk of the money from the government of his country for "forme and my colleagues here".

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STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL PROPOSAL

Attn:

Dear Sir,

I got your contact through the globerealestate.com website and writing to intimate you about my strictly confidential proposal I would want to handle with you for our mutual benefit.

In my department, we discovered an abandoned sum of US$7.5 million in a private Domicilliary Account that belongs to one of our foreign customers who died along with his entire family in plane crash on November 16, 2000.

Since we got the information about his death, we been expecting his Next-of-Kin to come over for the claim of the money because we can not releaseit anyone else accept to his Next-of-Kin or relation to the deceased as decreed by the Banking Law and Act.

But unfortunately we learnt that his supposed next of kin or relation incidentally, died along with him at the plane crash, leaving no body behind for the claim. It is therefore upon this discovery that I and other officials in my Department decided to make this business proposal toyou in order to release the total fund into your bank account you would provide,so as to claim as Next-of-kin or relation to the deceased.

Therefore for the safety and subsequent disbursement the funds, it mustbe remitted into a foreign bank account since nobody is coming for it andwe don’t want to miss this great golden opportunity or else the moneywill be lodged into the Bank Treasury as unclaimed.

However, the Banking Laws and Guidelines here stipulate that if such money remain unclaimed after four years, it will be transferred into the Bank treasury as unclaimed fund.

The request for a foreigner as next of kin in this business is duethe fact that our deceased customer was a foreigner therefore a mere indigene cannot stand as Next-of-kin.

In conclusion of the trustee transaction we have agreed that 30% of this money will be for you as a foreign partner, in respect for the provision ofa foreign account, while we set aside 10% of the money for expenses beincurred both locally and internationally, by all involved parites during thecourse of executing this trustee transaction and 60 % of the money would be forme and my colleagues here.

There after I will visit your country on behalf of my other colleagues for disbursement of the money according to the percentage indicated. Thereforeto enable the immediate transfer of this fund into your account as arranged,you must apply first to the Bank as a relation or Next-of- kin of the deceased indicating your bank name, account number. Also indicate your private telephone number and e-mail address for easy and effective communicationand location where the money will be remitted.

Upon receipt of your reply, I will send to you the text of the application. I will not fail to bring to your notice that this transaction is hitch free and you should not entertain any fear as all required arrangements have been duly made for the transfer.

You should contact me immediately you receive this letter. I decidedto contact you as you have products of interest in this part of the world where we can invest our own percentage to avoid the awareness of the our authority from this side as we are civil servants.

We can conclude this operation before of the first quarter of theyear. While anticipating your urgent response on this matter which will behighly appreciated.

Please keep this very confidential. May God be with us. I will sendyou my picture later if you want so that you can know who you are dealing with. Trusting to hear from you immediately through my mobile phone or e-mail address.

Yours faithfully,

DR.SMITH DICKSON

Jim's Note: this letter is another that actually used Nigeria as the originating country. It's a bit more polished and initally only wants your name, address, phone and fax numbers. But it's another one with a Yahoo.com return address.

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FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA CONTRACT REVIEW PANEL
FROM THE DESK OF PROF. TANKO BUNU
FEDERAL SECRETARIAT COMPLEX (ANNEX)
IKOYI - LAGOS

ATTN: IMPORTATION PROPOSAL

First, I must solicit your strictest confidence in this transaction. This is by virtue of its nature as being Utterly confidential and 'TOP SECRET'. You have been recommended by an associate who assured me in confidence of your ability and reliability to prosecute a transaction of great magnitude involving a Pending business transaction, requiring maximum confidence. We are top officials of the Federal Government Contract Review Panel who are interested in importation of goods into our country with funds, which are trapped in Nigeria. In order to commence this business we solicit your assistance to enable us transfer into your account the said trapped funds. The source of this fund is as follows: During the last Military Regime here in Nigeria, the Government Officials set up companies and awarded themselves contracts which were grossly over-invoiced in various ministries. The present Democratic elected Government of President Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo set up a Contract Review Panel and w

1. 20% for the Account owner (you).

2. 70% for us (The officials).

3. 10% to be used in settling taxation and all local and foreign expenses.

It is from the 70% that we wish to commence the importation business. Please note that this transaction is 100% safe and we hope to commence the Transfer latest seven (7) banking days from the date of receipt of the following information, i. Your Name, ii. Your Company's Name and address & iii. Your Telephone and Facsimile Numbers. The above information will enable us write letters of claim and job description respectively. This way we will use your company's name to apply for payment and re-award the contract in your company's name. We are looking forward to doing this business with you and solicit your confidentiality in this transaction. Please acknowledge receipt of this letter using the above e-mail address. I will bring you into the complete picture of this pending project when I have heard from you, and will also furnish you with my official Tel/fax numbers when I am sure you are interested in this proposal. Please be informed that the above matter should be treated as top secret.

Yours faithfully,

PROF. TANKO BUNU