It does indeed seem as though some of the scammers have decided they can do it without some influencial person getting "killed."
I received this one in my mail this morning:

Quote

Subj: VERY VERY URGENT CONTACT
Date: 3/13/03 12:42:38 AM GMT Standard Time
From: innocentiheoma@netzero.com
To: paulcoxwell@aol.com

NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION
CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
LAGOS-NIGERIA.

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.

FROM THE DESK OF INNOCENT IHEOMA.

DEAR SIR,

REQUEST FOR URGENT CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS

After due deliberation with my colleagues, I decided
to forward this proposal to you. We want a reliable person who could assist us to transfer the sum of Twleve Million United States Dollars (US$12,000,000.00) into his/her account.

This fund resulted from an over-invoced bill from contract awarded by us under the budget allocation to my ministry and the bill was approved for payment by the concerned ministries. The contract has been executed, commissioned and the contractor was paid
the actual cost of the contract. we are left with the balance of US$12,000,000.00 as part of the over-invoiced amount, which we have deliberately over estimated for our own. I am contacting you to be our custodan for this fund.

on the receipt of this, we have agreed on this below sharing ratio:-
1. 25% for you as the account owner.
2. 70% for us
3. 5% for Tax, as may required by our Government and your government.

As you may want to know and to make you less curious,
I got your address from adverts, in business
directory that protrayed your establishment in good light. I am the Secretary of the Contract Awarding Committee (C.A.C)of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation(NNPC).

This transaction is very much free from all sorts of RISK and TROUBLE from my Government. We have been exercising patience for this great business opportunity for so long and to most of us, this is a life time opportunity we cannot affford to miss.

To get this fund paid into your account, we have to present a Payment Invoice from a foreign establishment like yours. With this invoice, we will seek approval to transfer the fund within 14 banking days through
the APEX BANK (C.B.N) to your designatd Bank Account. I and one of my colleague involved in this deal will come to your country to arrange for our share upon the confirmation from you that the money has been credited into your nominated Bank Account.

Consequently, upon your acceptance of my proposal kindly confirm you interest by revert email to me through my email
indicating your sincereity and serious interest to accomplished this business opoortunity with me, then the procedures of your operation is needed due to the fact that this deal is not for child's play.

It will surprise you why we choose you and trust you for this transaction. Yes, we believe that good friends can be discovered and business like this cannot be realized without trust. Be further informed that everyone's interest and security had been considered before you were contacted. So be rest assured and fell free to go into this transaction with us.

With all pleasure, we are looking forward for your urgent response but endeavor to maintain the utmost confidentiality required.

Thank you and God Bless.

Best regards,

INNOCENT IHEOMA.

I'm so glad they checked me out so carefully. I must have been so naive to think that they just sent this to every e-mail address they could find. [Linked Image]

Quote
5% for Tax, as may required by our Government and your government.
5% for tax? I don't know about tax in Nigeria, but I could assure him that if I put through an official invoice for $12m or its equivalent that the money-grabbing pack of vultures in Whitehall would demand a LOT more than 5%!

And wouldn't you think that the secretary of a big corporation wud be abel to spelll a litl bettr? [Linked Image]




[This message has been edited by pauluk (edited 03-13-2003).]