The Classic Nigerian Scam – Repackaged

(Digital Money World) A friend of mine Nicholas has a Cabin Cruiser for sale and he received a call from overseas enquiring on the boat details. After queries has been done, the buyer asked for the email and disengaged.

Few days later, an email came

Dear Nicholas,

URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL.

Regarding my Telephone conversation
After my official enquiry from the foreign trade office in Singapore regarding the sales of vessels and investment into shipping businesses in Singapore, and your number ,your name was given to me.
I decided to contact you but I did not disclose the intention to anyone else because of the delicate nature of the project. I found your profile very interesting and decided to reach you directly to solicit for your assistance and guidelines in making a business investment more specifically on shipping and related businesses in Singapore. I have US$28,000,000.00 in cash and share assets and i am ready to invest it in your country within the next few month .
I and two other colleagues are currently in need of a silent foreign partner whose identity we can join together to make it a dream.
This fund accrued legitimately to us as commission from foreign contracts, through our private connections.
The fund is presently kept with the security company inform of gold to prevent it from waving exchange rates of US dollar. By virtue of our positions as civil servants in my country, we cannot acquire this money in our names. Because as high placed civil servants, we are not allowed by the civil service code of conduct to own or operate bank accounts outside of our shores. I have been mandated
as a matter of trust by my colleagues, to look for an overseas silent partner who could work with us to facilitate transfer of this fund for our mutual benefit, hence the reason for this email.
My proposal is that after you receive the funds, it would be shared as follows: (1) 15% to you as commission for your co-operation and assistance in facilitating the transfer, while the remaining 85% belongs to me and two colleagues. You will be free to take out your commission immediately after the money have being taking to your country. Since our objective is to invest the money in a foreign
country, it would be appreciated if you could also help us with advices and direction on investing into profitable shipping business as you have vast experience in your country.
However, this is optional, and if it is not convenient for you to further assist us with investing the money, we can end our cooperation after you make available to me our part of the money and we shall use it to purchase your vessel you wanted to sell. The transaction, although discreet, \is legitimate and the money will be transferred successfully with all necessary back-up official documents showing the legitimate source/origin of fund. The transfer will be effected within a period not longer than three weeks as soon as we reach
an agreement and you furnish me with a suitable response indicating your interest for processing the agreement. I plead with you on one issue, whether you are interested or not, kindly do not expose this information to any one else. I confirm that the transaction is legitimate and without any risks either to us or yourself. Please,
give me your response immediately by returning this mail through my email address. and call me on my direct line :00-44-7031820223

Yours sincerely,

Mr.Derick Jone( Manchester, Uk)

I had Nicholas forwarded the email to me, and luckily he did. This email was obvious that it was a canned version of the Nigerian Scam. After telling Nicholas off, I googled and show him similar emails and asked him to report to the authorities with the number that he has received on his phone from the ‘buyer’

Well guys, since scammers has improvised on how they scam (like making a call for a product that you’re selling), everyone has to be more vigilant when it comes to identifying them. I’m pretty sure somewhat down the line if Nicholas actually follows up, ‘Mr Derick’ would have asked him to transfer some money over.