You've had them, I've had them and hopefully you delete them. I'm talking about those scamming letters from some African dictatorship country pleading for assistance to liberate Millions of dollars from the country. What do you get from it - a percentage (normally about 10%) of the funds. Sounds too good to be true ? Well it is - wake up and smell the coffee.

I opted to start using Dr Cox A. Floppin for a laugh to see if anyone would actually bite. If you don't get the joke it goes along the lines of ...I see that Viagra has to be referred to now as its full chemical name - Mycoxafloppin.

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF WORKS AND HOUSING
FEDERAL SECRETARIAT
IKOYI-LAGOS


FROM:YAKUBU AMOS - ATTN:THE PRESIDENT/CEO


Dear Sir,

ASSISTANCE REQUIRED FOR ACQUISITION OF ESTATE

I write to inform you of my desire to acquire estates
or landed properties in your country on behalf of the Director of
Contracts and Finance Allocations of the Federal Ministry of Works
and Housing in Nigeria.

Considering his very strategic and influential
position, he would want the transaction to be as
strictly confidential as possible. He further wants
his identity to remain undisclosed at least for now,
untill the completion of the transaction. Hence our
desire to have an overseas agent.

I have therefore been directed to inquire if you would agree to act
as our overseas agent in order to actualize this transaction.

The deal, in brief, is that the funds with which we
intend to carry out our proposed investments in your country is
presently in a coded account at the Nigerian Apex Bank (i.e. the
Central Bank of Nigeria) and we need your assistance to transfer the
funds to your country in a convenient bank account that will be
provided by you before we can put the funds
into use in your country. For this, you shall be
considered to have executed a contract for the Federal
Ministry of Works and Housing in Nigeria for which
payment should be effected to you by the Ministry, The
contract sum of which shall run into US$30Million,
of which your share shall be 20% if you agree to be
our overseas agent.

As soon as payment is effected, and the amount
mentioned above is successfully transferred into your account, we
intend to use our own share in acquiring some estates abroad. For
this too you shall also serve

as our agent.
In the light of this, I would like you to forward to
me the following information:

1. Your company name and address if any
2. Your personal fax number
3. Your personal telephone number for easy
communication.

You are requested to communicate your acceptance of
this proposal through my above stated email address
after which we shall discuss in details the modalities

for seeing this transaction through.

Your quick response will be highly appreciated. Thank
you in anticipation of your cooperation.

Yours faithfully,
YAKUBU AMOS
N.B PLEASE FORWARD YOUR REPLY TO THIS ALTERNATIVE BOX

Starts off the normal way... Nothing new here -

Yakubu,

Sounds interesting - I'd like to know more... Let me know soonest.

Mycox

Attn: Dr Cox. A. Floppin

Thanks so much for your expression of interest in my proposal. The requirement is simple, just:
1. Your company name and address for incorporation with our corporate affairs commission of the federal ministry of industry.
2. Your telephone and fax numbers for ease of communication.
3. Details of your bank account for the transfer of the money.

On receipt of the above, I will apply for the incorporation of your company as stated. With this, I will apply for the approval of the federal ministry of finance directing the Central Bank of Nigeria to remit the fund to you as a contract proceed. This transaction is risk free. I am fully in control.

Also, I will expect you to coordinate the investment of my share of the money in properties and real estate right in your country.

Given the fact that I am in the system, all other requirements to effect this transaction have been put in place.

On or before a period of two weeks from the commencement of this transaction, the entire transaction would have been concluded given your prompt response.

Awaiting your urgent response.

Thanks and God bless.

Yakubu Amos.

Yakuba,

Thanks for the information but I'm still none the wiser as to what part or what you want me to do in this transaction.

To answer your initial questions
1. Nanomole Technologies, 23 The Strand, London, WC2A 3EB
2. Telephone : xxxxxxxxxxx (I think it's 44 for the UK)

I prefer email communication as I'm out of the office most of the time so I look forward to hearing from you... Do you have a telephone number I can call you on.

Regards
Mycox

Hello Mr. Mycox.

I got your mails just this morning. However I could not reply promptly because of the labour unrest in Nigeria contesting the arbitrary increment on the pump-price of petroleum products.

However, as situation improves by tomorrow I will liaise with my contact at the Federal Ministry of Finance for the approval of the Finance Minister authorizing the Central Bank of Nigeria to effect the transfer of this fund into your nominated bank account as a contract bill settlement. Therefore, send to me immediately your bank name, address and account number where the fund will be transfered to.

This fund represents various gratifications received from various contractors whom my boss have favoured in winning the right of execution of some contracts under his ministry. Given his position as a senior civil servant and the director of contract awards and financial allocations with the federal ministry of works and housing, he is exempted from any form of private business. Therefore, I have been mandated to front you as the beneficiary of the fund and our agent in order to secure the fund in a foreign account for investment in estates/landed properties and financial securities, with you also, acting as our investment agent.

However this is my private mobile number: 234-8xxxxxxxx, and you are free to call me at any time.

Awaiting your prompt response.

Thank you and God bless.

Yakubu Amos.

Its a mobile phone in Nigeria...

Yakuba,

Sorry for no response, been out for a couple of days... just returned and found your note.

It sounds relatively straight forward and I'm happy to proceed. Given the
amounts involved I would prefer to open a new account for this amount to be transferred into as I don't want the amounts confused with that I have in my
own accounts. If you're happy for this I will contact the branch tommorow
morning (if they're open) and open an account.

Let me know how you wish to proceed...

Regards
Mycox

Yakuba,

Since I had not heard from you I opted to create a seperate account which I
have done. The details are attached below. I tried to call you but the
destination was always busy (may have been the lines)

I've opened it as a high interest current account which enables swift withdrawals and pays a not too shabby 4.34% interest. It's with an internet bank so they don't actually have an address apart from the head office.

The details are

Bank Name : Cahoot
Address : They're part of Natwest..
Account number : 53452348

I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards
Mycox

It was rather quite for a few days - obviously complaining heavily about the price of fuel in Nigeria...

Attn: Mycox

I appreciate the promptness of your action towards this transaction. I have seen all the details as confirmed by you. Thanking you for the promptness in opening a new account.

I will apply for the approval of the Federal Ministry of Finance through my contact there with effect from monday,14th June 2004. Hopefully, before the end of the week,the Central Bank of Nigeria would have been advised by the Federal Ministry of Finance about the approval, and then, the Central Bank of Nigeria will contact you formally with out delay.

While looking forward for this type of promptness over this transaction, I pray that we will continue with this spirit and within a three weeks period, we shall all be smiling.

Thank you and God bless.

Yakubu Amos.

NOTE: Kindly confirm the address of the bank. It is very important.

Sorry Yakubu,

The address is PO Box 30630, 21 Prescot Street, London E1 8BR.

Regards
Mycox

PLEASE VIEW ATTACHED FILE OF YOUR PAYMENT APPROVAL FROM FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE (NIGERIA)

Ooo an new email from the Federal Ministry...

It looks legit enough....

Read attached file and respond to it.

CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT
TINUBU SQUARE, LAGOS
TELEFAX: xxxxxxxxxxxx

FROM THE DESK OF: SOLOMON A. OLALUBI

OUR REF:/CBN/FMF/PMT/103/04 DATE: 16th June 2004

ATTN: Mycox A. Floppin

PAYMENT NOTICE ON FUND TRANSFER OF US$30MILLION

The subject matter refers. We have received the approval order of the Federal Minister of Finance dated 15 June 2004 with reference number: FMF/FRN/APP/16.04 to the effect that the sum of US$30Million be transferred to your favour in respect of the job you executed with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. By this approval, your Funds Release Order and some other vital statutory documents have been prepared requiring your endorsement/signature. Therefore, we direct that you expedite action with the signing of these documents, as your fund transfer to your designated bank is predicate upon it.

Kindly keep this letter, as you will be required to produce it prior to the signing of these documents at our office.

Awaiting your earliest response.

Yours Faithfully,

SOLOMON A. OLALUBI
INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPT.

PAYMENT NOTICE ON FUND TRANSFER OF US$30MILLION

We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your mail.

Though, you have requested that the documents be sent to you for your endorsement, we will still have preferred it if you can come to sign these documents here which will be at no cost to you. But, since you have requested that the documents be sent to you, it means that you will take care of the mailing cost.

These are statutory documents and therefore, very sensitive; the loss of which can be very costly to us. Therefore, to guard against this, the documents have to be insured. Following this, we use the services of our official courier agents. The breakdown of the mailing cost is as follows:
Courier cost: US$1,750
Insurance cover: US$4,285
Total mailing cost: US$6,035

In order to facilitate the mailing of these documents to you, you are required to confirm to us, your mailing address and not post office boxes and private mailbags. Also, you have to arrange for the payment of the mailing cost immediately.

Be assured that as soon as these documents are endorsed by you and returned to us, your fund will be released to you immediately.

Awaiting your earliest response.

Yours Faithfully,

SOLOMON A. OLALUBI
INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPT.

Any yet another

A novel approach though - to charge me for sending the documents...

Might have to look at a better option for this though...

24th June

Solomon,

I received your document today as I’ve been out traveling. The high cost for mailing these documents causes me concern – you should be able to ship them via DHL securely for approximately $100 according to my local DHL office. I would suggest that you approach this method and advise the cost which I’m guessing would be nothing near the amount you mention.

Failing that It would be cheaper for me to travel to you and sign the documents there.

Please advise soonest

Mycox

I find those charges just a tad over the top so I'm going to query them to see how far they'll try and justify that the courier service must be used...

28th June

Hello Mycox.

I have been expecting your mail since. I believe that by now the Central Bank would have contacted you. Please what is the position let me know immediately. Please dont cheat on me. I trust you and I want to continue to trust you.

Acknowledge receipt promptly.

Yakuba

=======================

OUR REF:/CBN/FMF/PMT/103/04 DATE: 28th June 2004

ATTN: Mycox A. Floppin

PAYMENT NOTICE ON FUND TRANSFER OF US$30MILLION

I received your reply and the comments you made were well noted.

However, in my earlier mail, I did emphasize that we are disposed to our official courier while sending statutory documents for the attention and endorsement of the beneficiary. The courier service we use is the diplomatic courier where a diplomat delivers directly to the beneficiary and in person regarding such documents. This accounted for the disparity in the cost of delivery/mailing of the documents to you.

Again, the endorsement of the Fund Release Order by you has a time frame, and I want to state that the entire exercise is dragging as every contractor is under a time schedule. Given the time lag, I suggest to you the use of one of our accredited attorneys for the endorsement, which will be very cheap for you. Should this be acceptable to you, I suggest Barr. Ayon Richards for you on telephone number: 234-803-xxxxx and email: xxxxxxxxxxxx@yahoo.com. Therefore, I advise that you liaise with him, immediately.

Furthermore, should you desire to come, which is also welcome, you will be placed on appointment to avoid clash with the schedules of other contractors. Following therefore, your payment will have to be re-scheduled to a later date, and the foreign exchange available for you will be diverted to service other creditors/contractors payment pending the appointment.

We advise that you reply our mail promptly as the delay has the tendency of affecting the prompt remittance of your fund to your nominated bank account. Expedite action and indicate appropriate step, immediately.

Do you have any mobile telephone for easy reach since you are not always available to attend to my telephone calls, having called you severally?

Yours Faithfully,

SOLOMON A. OLALUBI
INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPT.

Four days for a reply - not exactly prompt are they...

And within five minutes of each other... we have...a nice WORD document letter which says...

Still hasn't justified this high expense to me...

Of course, he would know a solicitor wouldn't he.

Both emails came from different IP address's so sounds like at least two people involved in this one ( so far).

We'll they may have tried to reach me but has never left me a message yet..

Solomon,

Thank you for your message I received this afternoon – I’m concerned at the tone of the message though. You seem to say that delays will cause problems on my payment but it’s taken you four days to return my message with a half cocked answer.

I cannot see how the courier company can justify the high cost of their services – I can get a flight tomorrow to Nigeria for the princely sum of £800. That is the return price so it would be cheaper from a financial outlaw point of view if I traveled there and signed the documents in person. All I need from you is a letter of invitation to your country and the Nigerian embassy will issue me an emergency visa within 24 hours.

I will try and contact the barrister tomorrow morning as I’ve got no meetings scheduled. This brings me to my other point – If you’ve been unable to reach me on the phone it’s probably because I’ve been in meetings or away from my office – I’ve got a voicemail service, use it as then I know you’ve been trying to contact me. If you’ve phoned you’ve obviously been forwarded to it but declined the opportunity to leave me a message so when I return to my desk I know you’ve called and I can call you back.

Can you provide the necessary letter of invitation and I’ll go to the embassy and get the visa and book flights..

Regards
Mycox