Nigerian Letter Recipient's Story
This started around December of 2001. I came home early from work as usual, and while I had bills coming in I wasn't desperate but was certainly open for any money making opportunity that came my way which would catch up on my bills.
Well, lo and behold, I check my e-mail and there's this letter from a lady crying for help and she sounded kind of desperate.
She told me her name was Lady Miriam Abacha the widow of the late General and that she needed to transfer funds in the amount of $25,000,000.00 US Dollars to a foreign account and that if I would help her out she would give me 25% plus 5% for expenses.
At first I thought it was too good to be true, so I didn't answer her letter right away. In fact, I procrastinated for a couple of months before I finally wrote and asked if she had found someone that would be willing to help her out.
Well, she assumed right away I was there to help her and the way she explained things started to sound good to me. I was actually believing every word she said.
After a while she gave me her attorney's phone number and requested that I start contacting him but to keep her posted of any new development regarding the transfer of the funds and to swear to secrecy not to tell another living soul.
After about two days she wrote a letter stating that her attorney not only didn't want to proceed with the deal but took the money she gave him and skipped town.
Luckily though she had been able to hire another attorney who has the power to move these funds at the snap of a finger.
She then gave me his contact info and requested that I talk to him at once. To me everything sounded legitimate.
Then this attorney Barrister Ahmad Usuman called me up from a pay phone stating that he was on his way to the office and that I should call him in 10 minutes, which I did.
When we spoke he sounded like a professional, so I had no reservations. He said he wanted to get to know me before he transferred any funds to my account so I should call him everyday going by the code name "moon22" during our secretive phone conversations.
I asked him why, and he said that no one is to know about this transferring funds " business."
He would regularly call me up and pleasantly ask how my day was and if there were any questions that I may have for him.
Then he would talk about his two kids in what seemed a regular conversation apart from the occasional " we're going to be rich!"
He needed all my bank information to "see if everything is in order" and a fax number to send beneficiary documentation for signing, which I did.
He then stated that the funds were being transferred out of Lagos, Nigeria to Holland and that they were with a company named FIDELITY SECURITY COMPANY LTD. which was going to give me a call when the four boxes arrived.
I was told I should find any way possible to travel to Holland to sign the consignment release.
He also stated that I should bring with me all of my receipts, phone bills, etc. so that they could refund my expenses.
Well, to my surprise, the anticipated phone call from the security company came.
I was thrilled and didn't know what to say, especially when he mentioned that I would have to be there within a week to sign the consignment and cough up $12,500.00 to release the boxes.
So I called the attorney back to see who was going to pay for it, thinking to myself that Ahmad Usuman did mention that Lady Miriam Abacha was going to pay for ALL the expenses.
However when I tried to reach the attorney and got a female recording stating that there's trouble with the phone lines, I decided to send an e-mail even though he considered it unsafe and could be "bugged" by his government.
While waiting for a reply I talked to my brother and found out about what was really going on as he had seen your site.
I've since put a private block on my phone and fax numbers and blocked the scammers e-mails.
I'm sure these scams will never stop, but I hope they can catch a few of them.
Thanks
Stephen J S 05/08/02
... attorney... see to all perfection of documentations regarding the movement of those funds to any nominated account of yours...
contact him on this line 234 80 330 734 87 / 234 1 4812197 / 234 1 7756848 or ahmed.usum\\law.comYours with faith and love.
Lady Miriam Abacha ladymiriam2001\\yahoo.com
... urge you to verify with her excellency on my supposed part... Usuman Chambers
AGREEMENT AGREEMENT AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made the .. Day of.. 2002
BETWEEN Hajia Miriam Abacha , Alhaji Ibrahim Abacha, both administrator and administrative and representing the executors of the estate of late General Sanni Abacha (deceased) of No 1 Gidado Street, Kano (herein after referred to as “the executors”) which expression shall where the context so admits includes its legal representatives of ONE PART.
AND
Stephen S (hereinafter referred to as “the beneficiary”) which expression shall where the context so admits include his representative in-interest of the OTHER PART.
WHEREAS:
1. Its agent to receive into his absolute custody, the sum of $25,000,000 (Twenty Five Million US Dollars) and to manage superintend and invest on its behalf the above stated sum on investments overseas particularly .. that will attract the maximum yields on such investments.
2. That in consideration of the services rendered by the beneficiary the executors hereby agrees to pay the beneficiary 25% of $25,000,000 (Twenty Five Million US Dollars) as consultancy fees.
That the 5% is for expenses for both parties and 70% remainder of the $25,000,000 shall be applied exclusively on investments for the Abacha’s family as may be from time to time directed by the executors or the family attorney Mr. Ahmed Usuman.
4. That there shall be a first meeting between the executors and the beneficiary at or any other place that may be agreed by both parties immediately upon the receipt and acknowledgement of the Fund by the beneficiary.
5. That the beneficiary shall keep records of all transactions and investments and shall render periodical accounts as may be directed by the executors or its attorney.
6. That the executors and the beneficiary reserves the right to terminate the agency relationship between themselves provided that 14 clear days notice is to be given by any of the parties.
7. Any notice required to be served hereunder shall be sufficiently served by either parties if sent by registered post.
Any such notice aforesaid sent by registered post shall be deemed to have been served seven days after the date when it was posted.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties have hereunto set their hands and seal the day and year first above written.
SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED by the within-named executors.
... LADY MIRIAM ABACHA ALHAJI IBRAHIM ABACHA
In the presence of:
Name:
Address:...
Occupation:.
Signature:.
Date:
SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED by the within-named beneficiary
.... STEPHEN S In the presence of:
Name:.
Address:...
Occupation:.
Signature:
Date:
... move at once to the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce to incorporate a front company with your particulars...
... obtain the exchange approval form... avoid any complications and misunderstanding between you and my first person client...
... present the exchange control application form to the ministry of finance where the release approval will be issued...
... still in the Federal High Court but as soon as I get to my chambers I will send those documents via fax...
... been able to get the attention of Prof Aluko whom has promised to assist us...
... believe that my other numbers has been bugged...
