--------------------------START OF EMAIL
Attn: The Managing Director /CEO,

I have been instructed by my colleague to look for a foreign partner who can assist us to
execute an urgent private business involving huge profit and international cooperation.
We are interested in the importation of Agricultural equipment and computer accessories from
oversea and we need a foreign partner who can assist us with a bank account for the transfer of
US$33.000.000.00. We have resolved that 30% will be your commission for nominating a new bank
account and a company that will receive this funds on our behalf and any other assistance you
may give in this deal. 10% of the entire sum has been mapped out to settle any outstanding
expenses we may incur in the cause on this funds transfer, while 60% of our share will be used
for the importation.

My colleagues and I are civil servants and as members of the contract review panel. It is
against the (code of conduct bureau) for us to operate a foreign account; hence we are
soliciting your firm support. We can finalize the transaction in ten working days.

If this deal is accepted please respond to us via e-mail or call me on Telephone Number
234-1-7598138  to enable us provide you with the detailed modalities for the successful
completion of the project. There is no risk involved we just need international contact.
 

Yours Sincerely,

ENGR. MADU MOSES 
--------------------------END OF EMAIL

If you receive this letter, or one similar to it, you are asked to report this to the US Secret Service immediately.  DO NOT reply to the Phone, FAX, or email provided in the letter.  You can visit this link for info on how to report it.

You may also visit the following links for more detailed info on this scam:

CIAC Scam Chains

United States Secret Service - Operation 4-1-9

ABQ Journal - Nigerian 4-1-9 Scam Goes Online

Quatloos! Cyber-Museum of Scams and Frauds

ABC News: Secret Service Counters Nigerian Scams

State of Connecticut - Department of Banking: Nigerian Fraudulent Business Proposals

United States Postal Service - Postal Inspectors Crackdown on Nigerian Scam

UPDATE - 10/19/2001
The Michigan State Police has now issued an offical statement regarding this scam.  Internet links are shown below.  (The free Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0 is required to view this information.)

State Police and FBI Warn of Computer Scam, September 7, 2001 - http://www.msp.state.mi.us/news/0389.pdf - *REMOVED*
 

UPDATE - 11/20/2001
The Michigan State Police has now issued a second offical statement regarding this scam.  The first link has been removed from their servers. Internet link to the new statement is shown below.  (The free Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0 is required to view this information.) 

Michigan State Police Warn of Scam; State Police Says Letters from Nigeria Account for Majority of Reported Michigan Terrorist Scare Incidents, November 20, 2001 - http://www.msp.state.mi.us/news/0514.pdf

UPDATE - 11/26/2001
The 419 Coalition web site has lots of useful info and links regarding the Nigerian 419 Scam.

http://home.rica.net/alphae/419coal/

Here is a snipet from the 419 Coalition web site:

What To Do If You Receive A Nigerian Scam/419 Letter

United States Citizens and Residents

1. If you are a United States Citizen or Resident and have suffered NO Financial Loss, write "No Financial Loss -
For Your Database" on the documents you received and Fax them to the US Secret Service Task Force handling
Scam matters at 202-406-6930. Actual hardcopy of the 419er document(s) is required to add your 419ers information to the
Task Force Database for legal reasons, merely telling Task Force about it will NOT suffice. 

You may also email the 419er documents, especially any Banking Data they may have given you, marked No Loss, to Task
Force Main in DC; that is also acceptable.  mailto:419.fcd@usss.treas.gov 

Since Task Force is Very Busy dealing with cases in which there Have been financial losses, it is NOT customary
for them to contact you in cases where there has been No Loss. But it is Very Important that you get your 419ers data
into the Task Force Database, so DO send it along. 

2. IF you are a United States Citizen or Resident and YOU HAVE SUFFERED A FINANCIAL LOSS write
"Financial Loss - Contact Me ASAP" on the documents you have received and Fax them to the Task Force at
202-406-6930 and give Your telephone number(s). A Secret Service Agent will call you back as soon as possible to
discuss the matter with you ( don't worry, you're Not in any trouble ). You may also email the 419er materials,
especially any Banking Data they have given you, to Task Force Main in DC marked Financial Loss - Contact Me
ASAP and give your phone number. 

If you don't get contacted by a Special Agent soon enough to suit you, call the Task Force Voice at 202-406-5850 and tell
the Operator (or voicemail) that it's Urgent, you want to talk to an Agent as soon as possible, and give your name and
telephone number(s). 

--------------------------------

Also, a new round of Nigerian 419 Scam letters was received today by DejaNET.  A total of 5 letters came in today - all the same letter, but with different names.  Below is two of the latest samples.
 

--------------------------START OF EMAIL

CONTRACT REVIEW PANEL,
10 ADEKUNLE STREET,
VICTORIA ISLAND,
LAGOS-NIGERIA.

FROM THE DESK: BARRISTER LARRY WILLIAMS.
ATTENTION:PRESIDENT/CEO.

First,I must solicit your strictest confidence in this
transaction, this is by virtue of its nature as being
utterly confidential and top secret.

I am the Legal adviser of the Contract Review Panel
instituted by H. E. President Olusegun Obasanjo to
probe/review all Contracts executed and payments made
during the regime of late General Sani Abacha.  I have
been mandated by my colleagues on the Panel
to seek your assistance in the transfer of the sum of
US$18.5 Million into your Bank Account.  As you may
know, the late General Abacha and members of his
government embezzled billions of dollars through
spurious contracts and payments to foreigners between
1993 û 1998 and this is now the subject of probe by my
Panel.  In the course of our review, we have
discovered this sum of $18.5 Million, which the former
dictator could not transfer from the dedicated account
of the Central Bank of Nigeria before his sudden death
in June 1998.  It is this amount that my
Colleagues and I have decided to acquire for ourselves
through your assistance. This assistance becomes
crucial because we cannot acquire the funds in our
names and as government officials we are not allowed
to own or operate foreign bank accounts.  We have thus
developed a, fool proof, legal and totally risk free
scheme through which the fund can be transferred to
your nominated bank account within a very short time.
The scheme is to use our position and influence on the
Panel to represent you as a foreign Contractor
beneficiary of the funds.  We shall arrange all
documentation to support this claim and get Approval
for the transfer of the funds for your benefit on our
behalf.  The scheme is perfected to be 100% risk free
and we are sure the funds can arrive your Account
within 10-14 working days from when you agree to
assist us. You should acknowledge the receipt of my
mail through the above e-mail address so we can
further discuss the modalities of your cooperation and
negotiate the charge for the usage of your Account.
You definitely have a lot to benefit from this
transaction as we are prepared to give you between 20%
of the total funds as soon as you secure it in your
account.
Please, endeavor to send me an e-mail indicating your
interest as to enable me furnish you with my
confidential  telephone/fax number through which we
can communicate with you in confidence (in your
response) as the need for secrecy is great to this
transaction.
We expect your urgent response.

Yours faithfully,

BARRISTER LARRY WILLIAMS.

--------------------------END OF EMAIL
 

--------------------------START OF EMAIL

CONTRACT REVIEW PANEL,
10 ADEKUNLE STREET,
APAPA- LAGOS,
NIGERIA.

FROM:CHIEF DEINDE FAWAZ.
ATTN:PRESIDENT/CEO.
 

First,I must solicit your strictest confidence in this transaction, this is by virtue of its
nature as being utterly confidential and top secret.

I am the Legal adviser to the Contract Review Panel instituted 
by H. E. President Olusegun Obasanjo to probe/review all Contracts 
executed and payments made during the regime of late General 
Sani Abacha.  I have been mandated by my colleagues on the Panel 
to seek your assistance in the transfer of the sum of US$18.5
Million into your Bank Account.  As you may know, the late General 
Abacha and members of his government embezzled billions of dollars 
through spurious contracts and payments to foreigners between 
1993 and 1998 and this is now the subject of probe by my Panel. 
 In the course of our review, we have discovered this sum of 
$18.5illion, which the former dictator could not transfer 
from the dedicated account of the Central Bank of Nigeria before 
his sudden death in June 1998.  It is this amount that my Colleagues 
and I have decided to acquire for ourselves through your assistance. 
This assistance becomes crucial because we cannot acquire the 
funds in our names and as government officials we are not allowed 
to own or operate foreign bank accounts.  We have thus developed 
a, fool proof, legal and totally risk free scheme through which 
the fund can be transferred to your nominated bank account within 
a very short time. The scheme is to use our position and influence 
on the Panel to represent you as a foreign Contractor beneficiary 
of the funds.  We shall arrange all documentation to support 
this claim and get Approval for the transfer of the funds for 
your benefit on our behalf.  The scheme is perfected to be 100% 
risk free and we are sure the funds can arrive your Account 
within 10-14 working days from when you agree to assist us. 
You should acknowledge the receipt of my mail through the above 
e-mail address so we can further discuss the modalities of your 
cooperation and negotiate the charge for the usage of your Account. 
You definitely have a lot to benefit from this transaction as 
we are prepared to give you 30% of the total funds as 
soon as you secure it in your account.

Please, endeavor to send me an e-mail indicating your interest 
as to enable me furnish you with my confidential  telephone/fax 
number through which we can communicate with you in confidence 
(in your response) as the need for secrecy is great to this 
transaction.

We expect your urgent response.

Yours faithfully,
 

CHIEF DEINDE FAWAZ.

--------------------------END OF EMAIL