McKenzie Wark on Sat, 26 May 2001 07:30:40 +0200 (CEST)


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[Nettime-bold] the globalisation of scam 


This has to be the weirdest scam attempt i've had for some time.
I thought i'd share it as some kind of document the internet as
the meeting place of global venality, greed and cupidity.

Ken Wark

DEAR SIR, 

I GOT YOUR CONTACT FROM A CONFIDENTIAL SOURCE THAT 
INFORMED ME YOU HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF TRANSACTING A 
BUSINESS OF THIS GREAT MAGNITUDE.

I WISH TO INTRODUCE MYSELF TO YOU. I AM COL. IBRAHIM 
MUSTAPHA (RTD), ELDER BROTHER TO MAJOR HAMZA AL 
MUSTAPHA WHO WAS THE FORMER CHIEF SECURITY OFFICER 
TO THE MILITARY DICTATOR OF NIGERIA, GENERAL SANI 
ABACHA. THE LATE GENERAL SANI ABACHA 
DIED UNEXPECTEDLY ON THE 8TH OF JUNE 1998. HIS 
COLLEAGUES IN THE ARMY POISONED HIM IN THE PRESIDENTIAL 
VILLA (ASO ROCK) BECAUSE HE RULED NIGERIA WITH AN IRON 
HAND. 

WITH THE DEATH OF THE DICTATOR, ELECTIONS WERE HELD IN 
THE COUNTRY AND A CIVILIAN ADMINISTRATION WAS SWORN 
INTO POWER. WITH THE ADVENT OF THE NEW CIVILIAN 
ADMINISTRATION, A DECISION WAS TAKEN BY THE PRESIDENT 
OF NIGERIA TO PROBE AND PROSECUTE ALL MILITARY OFFICERS 
THAT SERVED IN THE LAST MILITARY REGIME OF THE LATE 
GENERAL SANI ABACHA. MY BROTHER, MAJOR HAMZA AL 
MUSTAPHA WAS SINGLED OUT BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE 
DAY AS AN ARMY OFFICER THAT MUST BE PUNISHED BECAUSE 
OF HIS CLOSENESS TO THE LATE DICTATOR AND GROSS HUMAN 
RIGHT ABUSES ON THE CITIZENS OF NIGERIA. MY BROTHER AND 
I WERE BEST OF FRIENDS AND HE SHARED ALL HIS SECRETS 
WITH ME. 

THE FORMER CHIEF SECURITY OFFICER TO THE LATE HEAD OF 
STATE MAJOR HAMZA AL MUSTAPHA HAD PRIVATE ACCOUNTS 
THAT ARE WORTH HUNDREDS MILLION UNITED STATES 
DOLLARS AROUND THE WORLD. PRESENTLY HE HAS BEEN 
ARRESTED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DAY AND IS 
PRESENTLY HELD IN PRISON ON TRUMPED UP CHARGES ON 
BEHALF OF THE STATE. I WAS DIRECTLY INFORMED BY MY 
CONTACTS AT THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA, THAT HE WILL BE 
CONVICTED BECAUSE OF HIS POSITION AS THE FORMER CHIEF 
SECURITY OFFICER TO THE LATE DICTATOR. 

SHORTLY BEFORE THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT ARRESTED MY 
BROTHER, HE ENTRUSTED TO ME THE SUM OF US$30.5M FOR 
SAFEKEEPING. THIS AMOUNT WAS TO BE SENT TO HIS MISTRESS 
IN LEBANON TO LAUNDER FOR HIM. I HAVE SINCE HAD THIS 
AMOUNT WITH ME STASHED AWAY A PRIVATE SECURITY 
COMPANY IN NIGERIA. I CANNOT SEND THIS MONEY TO MY 
BROTHER'S MISTRESS ANY MORE BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION 
OF THINGS OVER HERE. I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE IN MOVING 
AND SECURING THIS MONEY IN YOUR ACCOUNT ABROAD. I WILL 
ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE YOU WITH 20% OF THE TOTAL SUM 
FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AND CO-OPERATION WITH ME TO MOVE 
THIS FUND OUT OF THE COUNTRY. 

THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATION COLLECTIVELY RETIRED 
NINETY-TWO SERVING OFFICERS INCLUDING MYSELF A COUPLE 
OF MONTHS AGO. THIS MONEY IS NOT SAFE WHERE IT IS KEPT 
ANY MORE BECAUSE THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT ALL THE 
RETIRED OFFICERS MIGHT HAVE THEIR ESTATE CONFISCATED 
AS PART OF THE CURRENT SANITATION EXERCISE TO STOP 
CORRUPTION IN THE COUNTRY. ALREADY OUR VARIOUS 
PRIVATE BANK ACCOUNTS HAVE BEEN FROZEN PENDING THE 
OUTCOME OF THEIR INVESTIGATION AND WE ARE BEING 
CLOSELY MONITORED. I INTEND TO SAFEGUARD AND INVEST 
THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY ABROAD WITH A 
RELIABLE FOREIGN BUSINESS PARTNER SO THAT WE CAN 
INVEST THE FUNDS IN REAL ESTATE BUSINESS IN YOUR 
COUNTRY. THAT IS WHY I AM SOLICITING YOUR ASSISTANCE AND 
COOPERATION AS REGARDS THIS BUSINESS. ARRANGEMENTS 
HAVE BEEN CONCLUDED WITH A SECURITY COMPANY THAT HAS 
FOREIGN OFFICE IN EUROPE TO RECEIVE THE MONEY IN CASH, 
DEPENDING ON WHERE IS CONVENIENT FOR YOU. 

PLEASE INDICATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO ASSIST ME BY 
SENDING TO ME THE FOLLOWING AS THE BENEFICIARY 
INFORMATION; BENEFICIARY'S NAME, ADDRESS AND YOUR 
PRIVATE PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS SO THAT I CAN CONTACT 
YOU AND COMMENCE THE TRANSACTION IN EARNEST. I 
AM WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU VERY SOON. 

BEST REGARDS.

COL. IBRAHIM MUSTAPHA (RTD)