"Hope springs eternal in the human breast"
    -Alexander Pope,
    An Essay on Man, Epistle I, 1733
Caution: Despite the rich and often hilarious language these are not jokes !

For more information:
Mgbada Alert posted by the Freeman Institute (which also has a special collection of Abacha letters)
And don't miss Penny Arcade's comic gloss on the scams.

Droll Email Scams

I recently began to save some of these.  Most recent first as of 11/24/02.   Click on the author's name to access the complete document.
proposal from position country amount in question (millions US$) source of funds cause of death
Prince Gaius Obaseki (Jr) NNPC. I am also on a special diplomatic duty in the Nigeria Foreign Office in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Nigeria 18.5 over invoice not applicable
Mr. Anderson Kenice Manager in charge of bills and exchanges at the foreign remittance department of ALPHA MERCHANT BANK Nigeria 49.5 in an account that belongs to one of our high profile customers died along with his entire family in 1988 Lockerbie Pan American Airline plane crash.
DR ADEBAYO JOHNSON MANAGER 11 BUDGET AND PLANNING, MINISTRY OF PERTROLEUM Nigeria 31.5 UNDELARED WINDFALL FROM THE SALE OF CRUDE OIL DURING THE GOLF WAR not applicable
NGOZI WILLIAMS AND JOHNSON MY FAHTER WAS A VERY WEALTHY COCOA MERCHANT Ivory Coast 12.5 not given POISONED TO DEATH BY HIS BUSINESS ASSOCIATES
Dr. Wale Smith commissioner of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation Nigeria 8.7 budgeted by my government for the successful hosting of the Miss world beauty pageant for the year 2002 not applicable
Miss Folade Musa first daughter of detained Chief of Military Tactics Senegal 21.5 not given in custody for over 18 months [presumably still alive]
Yank Domas son of former minister of finance (Domas Makabo) Sierra-Leone 12.5 not given killed by a group of rebel soldier led by Sir Foday Sankoh
DOTUN MANUEL (MNIM) member of the Presidential Task Force on Oil Spillage Clean-up Nigeria 38 over-invoice not applicable
Muhammed Abacha son of the late military head of state General Sani Abacha Nigeria 105 not given mysteriously on the 8th of June 1998
MICHAEL SHADOL My late father was a diamond miner/merchant and a senior chief. Ghana 22 not given killed by rebel fighters in Sierra Leone who are fighting for control of diamond mines
Laurent Mpeti Kabila (Jnr) second son of Late President LAURENT DESIRE KABILA Congo 10 and some thousands carats of Diamond to buy arms murdered by his opposition through his personal bodyguards in his bedroom on Tuesday 16th January, 2001.
Barrister Paul Akinyele personal Attorney to late Mr. Patrick Pierce Nigeria 12.5 not given died on board the crashed BAC1-11-500 plane operated by the EAS Airlines in the northern Nigeria city of Kano
MR.DANLADI ALASAN ein leitender Direktor mit dem Zenith Internationale Bank GmbH in Lagos Nigeria 12.5 Mr Richard Blumenthal ein Amerikaner von einem Deutsch-Juden Abstammung abrupten Tod in der Terrorist-Handlung in Amerika am 11. September 2001
Mr. Patrick Bekele we are the children of late Chief Sam Bekele Sierra Leone 30 income accrued from Mining Co-operation's over draft and minor sales attaked and killed by the rebels in November 2000
Hon. EMMA WILLIAMS (Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources) Nigeria 32.4 deliberate over-invoicing not applicable
Mr EMMA WILLIAMS the eldest son of my father. Zimbabwe 9.5 not given the president's supporters invaded my father's farm burnt down everything, shot him and as a result of the wounds sustained, he became sick and died after two days.
JIMMY ANI THE EASTERN DISTRICT BANK MANAGER OF UNITED AFRICA BANK PLC. Nigeria? 26 THE OWNER OF THIS ACCOUNT IS MR. SMITH B. ANDREAS, A FOREIGNER HE DIED SINCE 1990.
MR COLLINS BROWN MANE the son of Gen. Asumane Mane Cote d'Ivoire 10 not given killed on November 17th 2000 allegedly for resisting arrest because of his role as rebel leader in the 1998 rebellion in Guinea Bissau.
DR.SAM G.ERICA PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT SAMERICAN & CO. BUSINESS CONSULTANTS ONE THE AFRICAN COUNTRIES 30 not given not applicable
DR.ALEX OJI KANU CHIEF FINANCIAL DIRECTOR INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION Nigeria 30 we deliberately inflated the cost not applicable
DR.ADE INNOCENT Payment Co-ordinator of Standard Trust Bank Limited STB nigeria 12.5 belongs to Mr.DENNIS J PIERCE, Queens NY u.s.a victim of the Tuesday 11th September 2001 attack on the World Trade Center {WTC}New York
Mr Smith Douglas personal accounting officer to Mr Frank Plank Nigeria 12.5 not given in a car accident along sagbama express road
Dr Daniel Awa manager Bills and Exchange of Foreign Remittance department of Union bank Nigeria 13 not given in a boat mishap along Nigeria Togo water-ways
Barrister Davids Macaulay personal attorney to Mr.Mack Pierce Nigeria 5 not given in a ghastly motor accident along Warri-Sagbama Express road
Mr Kayode Ademola Federal Contracts Review Panel Nigeria 8.5 contracts that were grossly over-invoiced nat applicable
Barrister James Thompson personal attorney to [Mr. Frank Serres], an indigene of your country Virgin Island 42.5 not given in a fatal car accident along Accra - Kumasi Express Road
MR Paul MOBUTU SON OF THE LATE FORMER PRESIDENT OF ZAIRE SOUTH AFRICA 31.54 THROUGH DIAMONDS SALES WHEN HE WAS THE PRESIDENT not given
Abdul Gambo auditor at one of the Banks in lagos Nogeria 18.5 owned by one late Engineer Manfred Becker in a crash
VESTA EVANS in charge of Administration in Standard Security & Finance services limited, Lagos Nigeria 18 money of late Nigeria attorney General chief, Bola Ige of blessed memory not given
MR GARUBA USENI the eldest son of Rtd General JEREMAIAH. J. T.USENI Nigeria 60 funds set aside for the importation of Arms and Ammunitions to boost the Nigerian Defense, arrested and detained; still alive
MOHAMMED BELLO MANAGER,UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA{UBA} Nigeria 18 Account of a Foreigner(a Turkish) resident in Nigeria four years ago, cause not given
DR MUGU MADIBE Financial coordinator & Head of Computer Operations Guaranty Security Company Ltd. Mauritius 28.6 deposited by Mr. Mohammed Idris Sayeed poisoned to death by business associate
Hajia.Mariam A. Abacha first wife of General Sanni Abacha, the late Head of State Nigeria 31.5 he gave me the sum in cash to move to Canada as usual in June 8, 1998
Barrister Danjuma Sule Principal Attorney to Engr. Tony Douglas, NNPC Nigeria 15.5 gratification in connection with Construction and Maintenance of (LPG) Gas Plant at Warri Refinery NA
PHILLIP OKOSUN Manager with Eco Bank International Plc Nigeria 25 domiciliary account of Mr. Wolfgang Schinister killed in the recent plane crash involving concord AF4590 in Gonesse, France
Glorja Kovac daugther of late Miodrag Kovac, former Yugoslav Minister of Health ?? 60 not given under mysterious circumstances
MR SULE AHMED SULE CREDIT OFFICER, CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA Nigeria 33.3 SAME CONTRACTOR HAVE RECEIVED SIMILAR PAYMENT LAST YEAR NA
MR. MIKE CHUKWU OBI ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Nigeria 15 ABANDONED SUM belonging to foreign customer ALONG WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY OF A WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN IN NOVEMBER 1997 IN A PLANE CRASH
Amer Zubairu first eldest son of Major Massarah Ekun Zubairu Sierra Leone 12 Purportedly for AFRC force. illness
NELSON M. BROWN (JNR) son of the late Mr.MORGAN BROWN Nigeria 35.6 father was very wealthy poisoned by his business associates
Miss Mariam Mbaki audit officer with Standard Bank, Johannesbourg South Africa 33.8 unclaimed funds of Engr.Jean Claude Pierre (Snr.) Kenya Air Bus (A310 - 304)Flight KQ431
Dr.Sam.Obi various Federal Government owned parastatals Nigeria 10.5 unclaimed contractual proceeds NA
SIMON SMITH
recycled April 7 2003 by MR.MOBUTU ADA JAMES
the son of Dr. Stephen Smith Zimbabwe 10 meant for the purchase of new machines and chemicals murdered few months ago in Zimbabwe as a result of land dispute.
DESMOND PETER only son of late former Director of finance,Chief Vincent PETER Sierra-Leone diamond and mining corporation Cote d'Ivoire 27 diverted, meant for purchase of ammunition not given
Mr. Dan Buba chief auditor, foreign operation of the Delta Steel Company Ghana 20 OVER-INVOICE NA
KHALIFA SESE SEKO SON TO THE LATE PRESIDENT OF THE CONGO DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC, FORMERLY ( >MOBUTU SESE SEKO) Congo (D.R.) 15 not given DIED OF A CANCEROUS DISEASE WHILE ON EXILE
Tola Smith manager of Foreign Accounts Department of the First Bank of Nigeria Plc. Nigeria 20 in an account that belonged to one of our foreign customers plane crash
Dr. Amah Abu chairman, contract reviewing committee, Federal ministry of Works and Housing Nigeria 21.4 savings on contract NA
SANDRA SAVIMBI DAUGHTER OF THE LATE REBEL LEADER JONAS SAVIMBI Angola 8.5 not given KILLED ON THE 22ND OF FEBUARY 2002
KEVIN GODWIN resumbitted March 16 2003 by Dr Mon Dula. Auditor General of a bank in Africa SOUTH AFRICA 52+100 account of Mr. Duncan Harkinson (Coy?), foreigner, sailor, bank manager died without a [heir], cause not given
Barrister Prince Ogbonna Uba family Attorney to the late Nigeria Head of State, General Sani Abacha Nigeria 250 not described, presently in security Company abroad not given
MRS LUISA ESTRADA wife of Joseph Estrada, former president of Phillipines Philippines 20 stashed out from various contract projects impeached, still alive
Mrs. Mariam Abacha wife of the former Nigeria Head of State Late General Sani Abacha Nigeria 20 not given sudden, on 8th of June, 1998.
BARRISTER JUBRIL NANA attorney for MRS. MARYAM ABACHA Nigeria 45.5 through oil proceeds during reign of Ge. Sanni Abacha not given
ISMAILA GARBA PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT, NNPC Nigeria 45 over-invoiced amount NA
Zainab Abacha daughter of the late General Sanni Abacha Nigeria 22.5 "looted money" not given
ADAH MUSA MANAGER OF BILLS AND EXCHANGE, FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC Nigeria 18 adandoned sum in account of foreign customer plane crash
Samuel Savimbi son of the late rebel leader Jonas Savimbi Angola 25.5 sale of diamonds killed
Engr. Thankheli Jado Johannes Director of Auditing, Ministry of Minerals and Energy South Africa 29.6 non-existing company NA
Dr / Mrs. Maria Kabila widow of the late President of Democratic Republic of Congo, Laurent Kabila Congo (D.R.) 22 fund secured when in power assassinated by bodyguard
Abdul Dagogo General Manager of the African Development Bank PLC Nigeria 32.2 unclaimed balance of Late Engineer Mark Otagaki onboard the ill fated Kenyan Airways bus
Godwin Emefiele Deputy Managing Director, Zeinth Bank Nigeria 10.5 unclaimed deposit of Mr. Robert Noel automobile crash
Rtd col.Patrick Omar financial secretary, Armed Force Ruling Council (AFRC) Nigeria 50.7 diverted NA
Hajia Maryam Abacha widow of the late Nigerian Head of State, General Sunni Abacha Nigeria 40.3 ?? not given
Mr Femi Pedro. Proposal resubmitted on Dec 8 2002 by Mr Babatunde Ajayi Recycled April 7 2003 by Mr Jimoh Lawal Branch Manager, First Atlantic Bank PLC Nigeria 25 unclaimed deposit of Mr. Claude Brian Best automobile accident
Eng. Ahmed Amino government-owned parastatal Nigeria 25.5 over-invoiced amount NA
HAKEEM AWE General manager of Standard Bank, Lagos branch Nigeria 20 unclaimed deposit of Mr. Frank Kelly automobile accident
Dr. Peter Azu NNPC contract payment release director Nigeria 30.5 highly over valued contracts NA
ANDREW OKPARA contract awarding committee,ministry of works & houseing Nigeria 24.6 over-inflated contracts NA
MR JERRY USMAN MANAGER, UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC Nigeria 10.1 ? NA
Mr KAREEM SANKOH son of the late DR. Michael SANKOH Sierra Leone 10 sale of shipping company murder by the rebel
MR.BEN CHUMAS director,STANDARD TRUST Bank Nigeria 38.5 unclaimed funds in account of Engineer Johnson Creek ghastly air crash
Dr. Rotimi Ademola contract award and review committee, federal government Nigeria 25 over-invoice NA
Dr. AMINU IDRIS Chief Accountant/Internal Auditor, National Petroleum Corporation Nigeria 20.5 over-invoiced bill NA
DR.WILLIAMS OWOSO chairman- audit committee, National Petroleum Corporation Nigeria 30 over-invoicing NA
Mr. DAN FORSTER Engineer, National Petroleum Corporation Nigeria 19 over-estimate on contract NA
Dr. VINCENT EZEH accountant,Ministry of petroleum Resources Nigeria 35.5 over-invoice NA
HIS HIGHNESS SHAIKH ISA BIN SULMAN AL KHALIFA Emir Bahrain 120 or 45 ?? NA
Dr. Buba Marwa manager of headquarter, First Bank of Nigeria Plc. Nigeria 4.6 unclaimed funds of Mr. Peter Bush automobile accident
MRS. VERA OBI widow of the late Engr. Bola OBI Nigeria 23.5 secret account Airplane crash
Mrs. Mariam Mobutu Seseseko widow of the late President Mobutu Sese-seko Zaire 18 late husband's treasures cancer

Tony Phillips
Math Dept SUNY Stony Brook
tony
at math.stonybrook.edu
May 23, 2003