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This scam made its rounds in the 1990s. I first saw it on a fax in the general counsel's office at GO Corp. Years later I received the following via email:

From: nike ade
Subject: STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

FROM: MR HAKEEM SULEIMAN

TO: Michael 'Mickey' Sattler

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL AND URGENT.

TEL/FAX:234-90-503984

ALTHOUGH THIS LETTER MAY COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE, PLEASE ACCEPT IT AS AN INTRODUCTION OF MYSELF AND A REQUEST FOR YOUR URGENT ATTENTION. I GOT TO KNOW YOU THROUGH A CONTACT FROM THE EXPORT PROMOTION COUNCIL (EPC)

I AM AN ACCOUNTANT AND MEMBER OF THE "TENDER COMMITTEE" OF MY CORPORATION, THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION (NNPC). AFTER DUE CONSULTATION WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, I HAVE SPECIFICALLY BEEN MANDATED TO ARRANGE WITH YOU FOR A POSSIBLE TRANSFER OF SOME FUNDS BEING AN OVER ESTIMATED SUM RESULTING FROM VARIOUS CONTRACTS EXECUTED BY SAIPEM, SNAMPROGETTI AND OTHER FOREIGN FIRMS FOR MY CORPORATION. THE CONTRACTS IN QUESTION WERE FOR THE FOLLOWING:-

1. THE CONSTRUCTION OF OSO CONDENSATE RECOVERY PLANT WORTH $1.2 BILLION.
2. CONSTRUCTION OF SEVERAL PIPELINE NETWORK FOR CRUDE, GAS AND PETROLEUM PRODUCTS EVACUATION, FOR $1.0 BILLION.
3. PURCHASE OF DRILLING AND MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT WORTH $700M.
4. $80M FOR TURN-AROUND MAINTENANCE (TAM) OF PORT HARCOURT AND WARRI REFINERIES.

THE ORIGINAL VALUE OF THESE CONTRACTS WERE PURPOSELY OVER INFLATED BY US (TENDER COMMITTEE) WITH THE SUM OF $25.5M (TWENTY FIVE MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND U.S. DOLLARS ONLY). NOW THAT ALL THE NAMES HAVE RECEIVED THEIR SUPPOSED PAYMENT ACCORDINGLY AND THE PROJECTS COMMISSIONED, WE WANT TO TRANSFER THIS OVER INVOICED SUM TO A TRUSTED FOREIGNER'S ACCOUNT. WE HAVE AGREED THAT IF YOUR COMPANY CAN ACT AS THE BENEFICIARY, YOU WILL RETAIN 30% OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT, 70% FOR US. HONESTLY, WE EXPECT THAT SOME MONEY ARE GOING TO BE SPENT ALONG THE LINE OF GETTING THE BUSINESS FRUITFULLY EXECUTED. WE EXPECT TO LOBBY TOP OFFICIALS FOR THEM TO APPROVE THE PAYMENT. NEVERTHELESS, WE BELIEVE IN THE CONTACT WE HAVE.

ALL MODALITIES HAVE BEEN WORKED OUT WITH THE TOP OFFICIALS OF THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA TO FACILITATE THE REMITTANCE OF THIS SUM OF MONEY INTO YOUR ACCOUNT WITHIN 14 WORKING DAYS OF RECEIVING THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION FROM YOU.

1. THE NAME OF BANK, ACCOUNT NUMBER, ADDRESS AND TELEX OF THE BANK.
2. YOUR PERSONAL PHONE, FAX FOR EASY COMMUNICATION.

WE SHALL ARRANGE A MEETING IMMEDIATELY WITH THE OFFICIALS INVOLVED FOR A FACE TO FACE TALK AND HITCH FREE TRANSFER OF THIS SUM OF MONEY INTO YOUR ACCOUNT. NOTE THAT WE HAVE PUT IN MANY YEARS OF METICULOUS SERVICE TO THE GOVERNMENT, THEREFORE WE WOULD NOT WANT OUR REPUTABLE IMAGE DENTED. THEREFORE, HANDLE THIS ARRANGEMENT WITH MATURITY, TOPMOST SECRECY AND URGENCY.

NOTE: REPLY BY FAX IMMEDIATELY TO THIS NUMBER: TEL/FAX 234-90-503984.

THANK YOU AS I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR IMMEDIATE REPLY.

YOURS FAITHFULLY,

MR. HAKEEM SULEIMAN