Sample of a Nigerian letter scam

-----Original Message----- From: tony clotey [mailto:osagiele2000@yahoo.com] Sent: Thursday, January 30, 2003 2:57 AM To: (email address deleted) Subject: Urgent Project Co-operation

FROM:TONY CLOTEY ESQ ALTERNATIVE EMAIL: tonycloteyjnr@yahoo.com or sobeitjk@ecplaza.net

Att;
I am TonyClotey, Bank Manager of THE TRUST BANK LTD, Madina Branch, Accra-Ghana. I have urgent and very confidential business proposition for you. I got your contact from my private search for a reliable and trusted foreign partner.

On June 6 1998, a foreign oil consultant/contractor with the Ghana National Oil Company, Mr. T.J.,Steier, made a numbered time (Fixed) deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at US$25,000,000.00 (Twenty-five Million Dollars) in my branch. Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employers, Ghana National Oil Company that he died in an automobile accident.

On further investigation, I found out that he did not leave a WILL and all attempts to trace his next of kin were fruitless. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that he did not declare any next of kin in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork. This sum of US$25,000,000.00 is still sitting in the Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will come forward to claim it. According to the Ghanian Law, at the expiration of 6{Six} years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Ghana Government if nobody applies to claim the funds.

Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you to stand in as the next of kin to him so that the fruits of this old man's labor will not be in vain nor get into the hands of some corrupt government officials. This is simple;

1) I will like you to provide me immediately with your full names and address so that the attorney will prepare the necessary documents and affidavits, which will put you in place as the next of kin.

2) We shall employ the services of two attorneys for drafting and notarization of the WILL and obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in your favor for the transfer.

3) A bank account in any part of the world, which you provide, will then facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the beneficiary/next of kin . The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 60% for me and 40% for you.

There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be done by the attorney and my position as the Branch Manager guarantees the successful execution of this transaction. If you are interested, please reply immediately via the private email address above. Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant documents that will help you understand.

Please observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country.

Awaiting your urgent

Thanks and regards,
TONY CLOTEY Esq