Vanity - Strange E-Mail I received, should I report it? (refers to Allah and hidden money)

I am Moustapha Abacha, the second surviving son of the late General Sani Abacha.

May Allah reward you greatly for your decision to assist us in this mutually beneficial transaction;

My mother has insisted that I deal with you directly at this crucial stage in this issue rather than the family lawyer.

As my mother has rightly informed you,we are seriously in distress as all our saved money abroad totaling over Us$700M has been confiscated by the Nigerian government.

If you have been following my family's profile in the news lately, you would have read all this things up.

I wish to inform you at this time that my mother will be reaching you based on the fact that she would really want to establish a relationship based on mutual trust and understanding.

So many people have disappointed us home and abroad, even people who benefited from my fathers regime have all bitten the finger that once fed them,

that is why we had to throw caution to the wind and trust you a stranger who we had never met all our lives.

as much as we recognize that a lot of wonders happen these days, you do not have to doubt the authenticity of my mothers mail to you, because we are really oppressed, and we need the assistance of a God fearing person and a good natured man like you to help us clear our funds from a security company, and bank it up for us while we make arrangements to travel and join you up once the surveillance on us is reduced.

For security purposes, I shall be coordinating the Business transaction as tight security is presently placed on my mother, we cannot afford to Lose the only remaining US$40.30 Million, of all that my father left for us. At the moment, the funds are in a security company and were deposited As African Artworks in some luggage. As soon as we are sure that we can trust you,we shall go ahead to send you the Certificate of deposit and the luggage numbers and security code numbers.

For the purpose of security and confidentiality, I would require that You and I proceed with this business with telephone and fax communication, as I would not want to discuss this transaction on The Internet for security reasons.

So I would suggest that we conduct this business through telephone and fax communication, while my mother will be reaching you via e-mail as security agents bug her telephone line.

As, as soon as I hear from you through my Satellite Telephone numbers and email Address as above, I shall furnish you with the whole details of how to Finalize the transaction and other information you might require or other things you might need to know and also you should be rest assured that this transaction is 100% risk free and success guaranteed.

There are documents backing the legitimacy of this transaction that will convince your bank or any other bank that might doubt the authenticity of these funds.

Also I will send you more information and other information you might require via fax immediately I hear from you on my telephone.

I look forward to your urgent response, as my mother and the rest of the immediate family genuinely need your help.

Postal Inspectors Crackdown on Nigerian Scam

Postal Inspectors have taken a new tact in their efforts to combat international mail fraud schemes. At a news conference today in New York, Inspectors announced they have seized and destroyed over two million Nigerian advance-fee fraud letters at the JFK Airport Mail Center since March 30, 1998. The letters, often referred to as "419" letters after the Nigerian statute that makes them illegal, were found to have counterfeit Nigerian postage, and they promoted fraudulent business proposals.

Lee Heath, Postal Inspector in Charge of the New York Division, warns that American consumers are being scammed to the tune of $100 million annually by international con artists, who send the letters primarily from Nigeria and other West African countries. "This interdiction program by Postal Inspectors and postal employees is preventing countless Americans from being victimized by these scams," said Mr. Heath. The letters are sent to millions of Americans and offer a "strictly confidential, risk-free opportunity" to get rich quick.

This is how the scheme works: The envelope arrives unexpectedly in your mailbox. It contains a confidential business proposal from a mysterious Nigerian government official who offers the reader a unique business opportunity to earn millions of dollars.

The proposal, typewritten on official-looking stationary, offers a 25 percent commission for assistance in transferring surplus funds of up to $38 million (obtained from "over-invoiced government contracts") from Nigeria to the United States. The solicitations request the reader provide a bank account number in order to complete the transaction. "Investors" who respond to the offer will be required to pay a never-ending assortment of legal fees, personal expenses and government bribes until the victim is drained of all assets.

Individuals who have fallen prey to the scheme are eventually invited to visit Nigeria or some other foreign country to finalize the transfer of the funds, but instead are pressured to pay additional fees and expenses. Several victims reported that the shakedown took some menacing turns, causing them to fear for their personal safety. One unlucky victim was confronted by two Nigerians with automatic weapons, and was forced to turn over $4,000 in travelers checks before receiving permission to leave the country.

In a recently concluded Inspection Service investigation, a victim, who had already spent thousands of dollars on various fees, was told that additional money was needed to "decoat" a suitcase full of "coated" one hundred dollar bills. The victim was told that the bills were temporarily defaced with a black film to mask the origin of the money, and a special, very expensive solution, must be purchased to "decoat" the bills.

To circumvent the expense of mailing the letters, these criminal enterprises use counterfeit postage, costing the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in lost revenue. Under Universal Postal Union regulations, Nigeria is charged a terminal dues fee by the delivering country for this foreign-originating mail.

Postal employees have been trained to identify incoming Nigerian letters with counterfeit postage affixed so it can be removed from the mailstream and destroyed. Under an agreement with Nigerian postal officials, U.S. Postal Inspectors and postal employees at the JFK facility are intercepting the scam letters on a weekly basis. According to Frank Umoski, USPS Operations Manager at JFK, "Eight out of ten bags of mail received from Nigeria contain fraudulent letters."

Due to the success of the JFK operation, Nigerian scam artists have begun mailing the letters from surrounding West African countries. In order to halt this emerging twist, postal officials in Ghana have also agreed to participate in the detection and interception program. Negotiations are underway seeking cooperation from other countries, as well.

Interdiction efforts have resulted in a dramatic decrease in the number of Nigerian scam letter complaints received by the Postal Service. According to Daniel L. Mihalko, Inspector in Charge of Congressional and Public Affairs in Washington, DC, customer complaints regarding the receipt of the Nigerian letters have fallen 80 percent since the New York project began. Plans are being made to expand the effort to other cities.

Don’t fall for this scam! If you should receive one of these letters, do not respond. Either throw it away or send it to:

Inspection Service Operations Support Group

Two Gateway Center, 9^th Floor

Newark, NJ 07175-0001

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