I love getting these requests for money to be sent to Nigeria. The latest one is from some guy named Dr. Fibu representing something called the "Nigerian Federal Government Contract Review Panel."

Dr. Fibu is trying to "raise" money for investments requesting money to buy fishing trawlers and/or to do crude oil exploration in Nigeria. But you don't have to take my word for it, you can read the whole email down below.

This is so transparently a scam, it's hard to believe that people fall for it, but people are still giving money to televangelists, psychic hotlines and all sorts of other scams, so why not this?

You can find information about this scam all over the internet. Here are few links followed by the email itself.

I'm going to write back to Dr. Fibu to see what he has to say.

The East African
Computer Cops
Nigerian Money Scam
The Nigerian "4-1-9" Money Scam
Nigerian Money Scam: what happens when you reply

Here's the email:

Dr Martin Fibu Lagos, Nigeria. Email: martin_dr@37.com

Dear Sir;

REQUEST FOR URGENT BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP.

I solicit your utmost confidence in this transaction. It is confidential and "Top Secret". I represent officials of the Nigerian Federal Government Contract Review Panel (FGCRP) who are interested in investments, to buy and manage fish trawlers or go into crude oil exploration/marketing with funds, which are presently trapped in Nigeria. In order to commence this business we solicit your assistance to enable us transfer into your account the said trapped funds.

The source of this funds is as follows: During past military regimes in Nigeria, government officials set up companies and awarded themselves contracts which were grossly over-invoiced. The present Government set up a Contract Review Panel of which we are members. We have identified a lot of inflated contract funds, which are presently floating in the Apex Bank of Nigeria ready for payment. Unfortunately, as civil servants and members of this panel, we cannot acquire this money in our names. I have been mandated by my colleagues of the panel to look for a foreign partner into whose account we would transfer the sum of the USD$30M (Thirty Million United States Dollars). Hence, I write requesting your unreserved assistance.

We plan to share the money with 30% going to the Account Owner, 60% for my partners and myself and the remaining 10% used in settling all expenses.

If you accept this proposal, be kind enough to send to me by fax
1. Your company's name, address, telephone and fax numbers
2. Your bank name, address, as well as your Bank account number.

With this information, we are going to put in applications for the release of these funds into your account for us all. So far, much has been said, and due to our sensitive position we can not afford a slip in this transaction so contact me immediately through the above email address for further information on the requirements and procedures for this transaction. Please treat with the strictest confidentiality and utmost urgency.

Best regards

Dr Martin Fibu