From Cole with love

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Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2005 12:21 am

Here lies my tale of woe for one Cole Nsan, who tried to get money from Edwina Fink from Dec 19 to Feb 17 encompassing 157 emails back and forth and includes two forms and one trip from Benin City to Contonu, Benin. Would have lasted longer, but I did this as a text-only bait and I sort of rushed the end to get them to go to a mugu roundup at the Lagos airport. Warning, it is a straight bait, but I thought that there's some interest in those things; and I wanted to enter it in the text-only baiting contest.

The players:
Cole Nsan: All around good-guy mugu. Pleast don't spam his [email protected] email address with gay porn or anything like that.
Festus Keyamo: The "barrister" and Uncle Fester look alike. I know that you think he's not a lawyer, but he has a mail2lawyer.com account ( [email protected] )
Edwina Fink: 84 year old nice lady, just trying to help out.
Heather Takagema: Helpful grandaughter of Edwina.
Both are bad spellers as I want to impress the mugus with my level of intellegence. The bad spelling in my comments is all my own Smile

Our story starts out with Edwina simply saying she's willing to help and how did they get my email address:

Quote:

Dear Edwina ,
Thank you for your response and your request,I appreciate your
interest in this matter. I got your email adress after an internet search for a honest and relaible partner ,Please be less assured that this transaction is legal and 100 % risk free as long as we remain discreet about it considering my postion and my political ambition.
Your interest to assist me was rather unspecific as a result of which I am quite skeptical in believing that you could be of assistance to me,
however I would like to be sure of your willingness, trust worthiness and committment to execute this matter with me,I cannot afford to compromise these virtues. Considering the money involved,it is neccesary for me to be sure of the person to whom I will be entrusting this matter,my trust is not given out lightly.
<Blah,blah,blah, free money 17 mill to be exact.>
Sincerely
Cole Nsan
Private Banking
Investment Banking & Trust Company

Edwina doesn't know computers, but she has a little trouble beliving this:

Quote:

I am not sure how you could do an internet search on me as I just
received this computer as a gift from my granddaughter in order to
keep in contact with her at the University. However my number is
702-719-3349. (A payphone outside a trailer park in Battle Mountain, NV) Please let the number ring a bit, I am 84 years old and use a walker.

(Amazing to me that the lads make her run around, but never question how she can.)

Quote:

Dear Edwina ,

Thanks alot for your email message which i must confess was quite honest and i am sure reflects the Kind of person you must be .Let Inform you that i have done a proper home work and i am 100 % confident that this transaction will be successfully executed .

I will advice that we must remain on a continuos email correspondence until we are able to effect the funds transfer into your nominated Bank Account .
(blah, blah, blah 100% risky free)

Cole is a pesky guy. Before I have a chance to answer, he sends me another email with a lovely picture of his fake wife and kids.

Quote:

Dear Edwina
I am still awaiting a form of identification from you to ascertain fully the person i am doing this with .
I have just retrieved the Deposit Certificate but i will have to send it to the Legal Department of the Bank for notarization and legalization , that will cost me about $6,500 , as soon as i am able to pay this fees i will have the deposit certificate ready to be faxed to you .
I have secured a reliable attorney who will represnt you here in this affair , so that we can get the funds successfully transfered without your physical presence here neither will you have to be in court as he will handle all the legal Aspects on your behalf as the Beneficiary of the funds
I will endeavour to get the Full contact Details before the end of today , you will have to contact him immediately asking for his assistance to present your inheritance claim before the Bank .
I am looking forward to the successful completion of this transcation soonest with your dedication and deligence .
Respond soonest .
Cole Nsan

Quote:

Hello Cole,
First let me apologize for not contacting you before now. My religion
(Pentacostal)
doesn't allow me to operate machinery on Sunday and so I wasn't able to read
your email before now. Secondly, thank you for the picture. You are
quite a handsome
man. Is that your sun next to you? Is your wife in the picture?
I'm quite new to this computer business. As I had told you, I
recently got this computer
from my granddaughter and I am not sure of all the functions. I don't
understand
what you mean by "scan a form of identification." Can you please give me some
further help?

Stalling tactic 101. Always be the person that just got a computer.

Quote:

Dear Partner ,
I am quite impressed with your swift response to my last email message ,My Wife and son were all in the picture including my sister .
Please you really have to understand that considering the seriousness of this affair we will have to maintain a regular email correspondence.This is actually the last payment quarter of the year and if we work very hard , we can be able to effect the release of the funds before the holidays .
I have succesful secured the notarization and legalization of the deposit certificate from the legal Department of the Bank at a cost of $6500 , i will send it along with an attachment to a mail.
I have also successfully got a notable attorney to represent you in this affair , Below is his contact Details ,

Barr. Festus Keyamo Chambers

Tel . 234-8035652940 Please don't call these (mobile) numbers, the barrister is a busy man.
fax . 234-52600794
email: [email protected]
Please endeavour to contact him soonest asking him to represent you in your inheritance claims ,
Keep me informed As soon as you contact him.
As regards what i mentioned in my ealier mail , i will need a form of identification ith a proof of your identity,you have heard of cases of impersonation, the money in question is such that I cannot afford to take the issue for granted.My curiousity can be justified considering the money involved, we
should be able to build up some trust for each other before we proceed, otherwise what will be the point if we cant trust each other.Well if I may remind you again, you are required to send a copy of your Driver's Licence or a copy of your International Passport. The most important issue is that I want to be sure I am transacting with the correct person.The authenticity of this transaction is self evident, you need to give me benefit of the doubt and I will prove it to you that this business is real , But i will advice that you remain very discreet about this transaction until the funds are wired into your account , i do not want this transfer to attract the Monetary bodies,like IRS, FBI because the transfer will be seen as in-house.
I eagerly await your swift response .
Sincerely ,
Cole Nsan

So I email the barrister.

Quote:

Barrister Chambers,

Cole Nsan has asked me to writ e you and ask you to please represent me in my
inheritance claims. If you can be of assistance to me, please contact
me as soon
as possible.

And get back to Cole

Quote:

Cole,
As you have requested, I've sent the lawyer an email asking him to represent me.
In the manor of the identification, I fully understand that you would
need an id, I just
didn't understand how I "scan" a driver's liscense. I now understand
what you want
if you can just provide me an address where I can mail a copy of it, I
can easily do
that.

The Barrister writes me back I'm sure that you're suprised by this, but the barrister has the exact same IP (192.116.154.889) as Cole! Even though they are the same person, I'm still going to call them "Cole" and "the barrister".

Quote:

ATTN : Mr Edwina Fink

Dear Sir ,

LEGAL REPRESENTATION ON INHERITANCE CLAIM

We refer to the above subject matter. We are forced to assume that your late next of kin must have kept an a/c with Investment Banking and Trust Company Henceforth to be referred to as I.B.T.C ,
Sequel to your above requested representation at all confirmable Sectors in Nigeria, this chambers has hereby accepted your offer for legal representation in processing and procuring your inheritance in theBank. And most especially to endorse fund remittance documents as your legal proxy at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) or any other non-governmental organization.

This chambers has thus discharged a team of legal investigators to I.B.T.C for preliminary investigations on your request for representation on inhertance claim on the assests of your late relative .We will get back to you before the end of todays working day.
Thanks and hoping to remain at your service.

Yours Faithfully,
FESTUS KEYAMO LL.B Hons
Senior Partner ,
Festus Keyamo Chambers

This is where I thought I'd have a problem keeping these guys, they go for the money on the 21st of Dec. I'd hoped to chat them up for a little bit. I'll cut this down to the relevent parts.

Quote:

ATTN: Mr. Edwina Fink (He still doesn't get that I'm a woman, I'll have to politely slap that out of him)

Dear Client ,

RE: LEGAL REPRESENTATION ON INHERITANCE CLAIM
we refer to the above subject matter.

Sequel to your above requested representation at all
confirmable Sectors in Nigeria,
(Blah)
Send to us items stated below

(A) Evidence of Deposit of the said inheritance.

(B) A valid form of identification (drivers license/
international passport)

(C) Your Nominated bank name and address, Account name
and number includng swift code if any.
[ D]Death Certificate of your late Relative

BILL OF COST (Non Negotiable) (Oh, you think?)

(a) Notarization/Stamp Duty payment on the Memorandum
of Appearance at the
Federal Harcourt-Lagos and Corporate Affairs
Commission----------------------------------US$3,750.00

(b) Validation of the CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSITat the High
Court---------US$856.59

(c) Filling and Processing fee ----- US$ 300.00

TOTAL STATUTORY FEES ---------US$4900.59

(Blah)

The sum of US$4,900.59 (Four Thousand, nine hundred
United States Dollars,fifty-nine cents only) should be remitted to
this office to facilitate the process of obtaining
items a, b&c (bill of cost) which is vital for us to process your claim.
Please find stated below the particulars of our accounting officer
in whose particulars you should make the payment,
THROUGH WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER:

AEMO BRAIMAH
54 UWASOTA ROAD
BENIN -CITY,EDO STATE.
NIGERIA

(Blah)

Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2005 12:40 am

As I said, always act stupid:

Quote:

Barrister.
Thank you for the information. I will get back to you about this.

And to Cole:

Quote:

Cole, this is the response I got back from the laywer. I have a
couple of questions. He's asking me for the edivence of deposit and inheritence and the death certificate. How would I get those? Also he's asking for quite a lot of fees to be paid. Are these the fees you've already paid or is this something else. Lastly, it seems strange
that he would want them via Western Union. In the US I would either
send a check ot do some kind of bank transfer (I don't have credit cards). Is this normal in Africa?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Oh yes, I almost forget, he also wants a drivers liscense and you did
too. Please remember to send me an address so that I can mail a copy to you.

Cole sends me the required certificates and tells me that I need to pony up the money. Notice that his role in this is no longer secret, but it will become secret again at the end. I just love how these guys can't keep a story straight.

Quote:

The attorney was here at the bank this morning ,he made all the necessary enquires on your behalf and sent an application to the bank on your behalf as the next of kin requesting for a re-assignment of credit from the deceased, and transfer the funds to you. With this is ,the Bank is now mandated to transfer the total funds of Us $ 17.5 Million of the deceased to you the assumed beneficiary .We really have to work round the clock to ensure that this money is wired into your account before the weekend .So we can conclude the transaction before the holidays
I am quite overjoyed at this giant step , I have attached a copy of the Deposit certificate which is the evidence of deposit and the death Certificate along with this email , You will have to forward it along with a scanned copy of your I.d . This will help to reassure the attorney that heis dealing with the right person .You will have to make the payment for the Bill of Cost yourself via western union as directed by the attorney ,As the banks here cannot clear american checks and bank transfer may take a longer time than western union . I have spent all my funds in securing the notarization of the deposit certificate at a cost of $6500 ,And when the lawyer recieves the payment particulars he will be even more convinced that he is dealing with a foriegn national(because only foriegn nationals use Western Union, right?) and will definetly accord you the respect and treat the affair with the Urgency it deserves .I am looking forward to meeting you in person soonest after the funds has being successfully transfered as i hope to travel for my annual vocation to the States .

Quote:

Thanks for your help Cole, I appreciate getting the two documents from you. I still don't understand what you mean by a "scanned" document, but I assume that this is something like making a copy? I thought I understood you to want a copy of my drivers lisecense, but it would appear that it would not get there in time.
The money is quite a lot for me. I don't have a lot of "disposable"
income since I am retired. Most of my money is in certificates of deposits and bearer bonds which have a penalty if I cash them early. Is there a possibility of securing a loan using the
14 million as collateral? If this is not possible, I will check today to see how much money I have available and to look for an American Express agent.

(Not sure if I threw that in on purpose, but it got his attention Smile

I won't bore you with Keyamo's next response. Suffice to say he is a long winded mugu and he wants to know why I haven't done anything yet. You'd think he could just ask Cole, who is either him or sitting next to him at some sweaty internet cafe. FYI, I refer to two documents being attached in this email- I usually attach large .dlls or something, but this time I went for the "I don't know how to attach" stategy. I thought I could get 2-3 more emails out of this, but they seemed happy to get virtual attachments.

Quote:

Mr Keyamo,
First off, please address me as Mrs. Edwina Fink. I'm a lady not a
man. Secondly, I apologize for not getting back to you sooner, but I needed to confir with Mr. Nsan about the transaction. I have the two documents you have recquired and have attached them. I will attach a copy of my drivers liscense when I can find out how
to "scan" it. I am quite new to computers, so please bear with me.
As to the funding, I was not aware that I would need to payf for
these. I had thought Mr. Nsan had made all of the payments to secure them, again requiring that I confir with him before replying. I am retired and most of my money is in CDs and secured bearer bonds. Is it possible to either take a loan with the 17.5 million as collateral or perhaps defer the costs until after the money is release with the agreement
that payment will include some additional funds (e.g. plus 10%)?
I will need to find out where the nearest Western Union is and collect
what funds I have before I can perform the transfer, please bear with me on this. I can give you some information however.
Client:
Edwina Frances Fink
Address:
Lot #120 Ramblerock Rd
Blowfish Nevada 89820

Cole responds next. I am so happy! He likes my commitment and dedication and thinks I'm a team player. Boy is he going to be shocked. And of course, I can't use virtual money as collateral for a loan, right? And he is smart enough to pick up on the American Express comment.

Quote:

Compliments of the Day , I am really impressed by your commitment and dedication so far , if we continue like this we should be able to get the funds released within the next 48 hrs into your nominated Bank Account .since you just started using a computer i guess you really have alot to learn , To scan your documents or I.d Requires a different gadget ,thats the scanner , do you have one ? i am sorry we can not use the Deposit Certificates as collateral to obtain any loans as i do not want us to attract any attention to this funds transfer ,like i said before you should very discreet about this transactions as i am trying to protect my political ambitions as i intend to contest for the governorship seat in the next polls .

As regards the payment for the Charges ,i appreciate the team spirit you have exhibited but what do you need an American express agent for ? You just have to get the nearest Western Union Office to make the payment ,You should make all efforts to make the payment before the end of today ,even if you do not have the full money , you can explain to the Attorney that he should accept the part payment .We do not have time on our side ,I would have gladly assited you to make this payment but for two reasons.
1.I have spent all my funds in securing the notarization of the Deposit certificates at a cost of $6500 and believe me that is a large sum in my own currency .
2.The attorney will be fully obligated to act as your legal proxy if you deal directly wth him in all affairs regarding this funds transfer ,
Please endeavour to make the payment today so we can complete the funds transfer before the weekend .
Sincerely ,
Cole Nsan

A "scanner" WTF is that? And something I always do. I never have the money they need, but I always phrase it in a way that implies that I have more money available.

Quote:

Once again, thank you for the information. No I don't have a scanner. I might be able to go to the local Office Depot and see if I can rent one or something.
I'm sorry about American Express. I meant to say Western Union, but
sometimes this old lady gets mixed up, haha! I was able to find a Western Union in Battle Mountain, but there isn't one here in Blowfish. Since I can't drive, I'll need to see if one of my friends can take me
there. Also, I have to drive through a mountain pass in order to get there and this time of year it can be closed at times due to snow.
As to the funding, I have taken all the available money out of my
accounts, but I only have $4247. I would hate to cash a CD or Bearer bond because I will lose interest on them. How can I say this nicely? In some third world countries, the fee is...negotiable? Could it be
possible in this case if I give them this much that it would be enough? Please give me your thoughts on this. As always, thank you and be sure to have a Merry Christmas.

Which of course, by that I mean "Burn in Hell mugu."

Meanwhile Uncle Festus comes back with a very long and boring rant which translates to "Where's the money, lady?" He is kind enough to look up the closest addresses in the westernunion.com web page to my bogus zip in an effort to move things along. I respond with a modaility I like to use to make them switch to Moneygram. Notice, the "Benin" reference? That comes back to haunt them later.

Quote:

Barrister Keyamo,
Thank you for the information. I was able to do the same search and I found the Owl Club is closest to my location. The only problem is that I can't drive (I'm 84) and I will need to get a friend to help me. Also there is a mountain range between here and Battle Mountain and
the pass over the range is sometimes blocked due to snow. It might
actually end up faster to do this as a bank transfer. Another thought is that we have a local Moneygram branch and I understand that Moneygram does overseas transfers. Can you get a Monrygram transfer in Benin?
It is taking me a little time to come up with the needed money. As I
said before, I wasn't aware that I would need this much money to release the account. Please bear with me on this. I will await your thoughts on the method of transfer.

While I'm waiting, the barrister sends me another dunning email asking for the money. I should mention that I am the polar opposite of my character. Cole sends me a ton of sappy ecards which make me want to barf. Lawdy! Cole, who was broke, manages to come up with the remaining money. What a suprise!

Quote:

Dear Edwina ,

Compliments of the season , I have being eagerly looking forward to your email , How are you today ? i hope you are well and fine , i was able to make a payment of $ 790 Yesterday to complete the money you already have ! I hope you have forwarded the payments particulars for the payment you made through MoneyGram To the Lawyer ? You should be very carefull when sending the payment particulars so you will not make any mistake .

I hope we are able to complete this Transaction today , I am already looking forward to meeting you in person ! In this direction i will be going to the American Embassy here to make inquires as regards the Visa Requirement .I hope you have the merriest Christmas you have ever had !

I await your response my dear Friend .

We skip forward a few Cole messages where pretty much all he does is ask me where the money is. Then he decides that Moneygram is okay. Score and goal!

Quote:

Dear Edwina ,
I was very happy to recieve your email , I am also happy to inform you that i have just borrowed some money from my Elder brother who stays in the same neighbourhood with me , What i need you to do now is to proceed to the nearest Moneygram Center as i believe this will be acceptable to the Law Chambers pay the total monies you have as directed by Barr. Keyamo ,immediately you get home you must forward the payments particulars to him for the money you made and inform him also that a family friend resident here in this country will complete the payment today .
As soon as i get off this computer , i will send the other amount , i really want us to make the payments before the end of todays working .
Please endeavour to send a mail as soon as you make the payment .
Sincerely ,
Cole Nsan

P:s : Did you recieve my e-card ! (Did I mention BARF!)

Quote:

I received your ecard Cole and thank you very much, I have spoken tothe lawyer and I will send the remaining money via Moneygram today.
Have a Merry Christmas!

The barrister chimes in

Quote:

WE ARE IN RECIEPT OF A THE SUM OF $790 Usdollars WHICH WAS PAID VIA A CHECK SENT TO THIS CHAMBERS IN YOUR NAME . AT THIS POINT IT IS MY DUTY TO INFORM YOU THAT PART-PAYMENT OF CHARGES IS NOT OUR NORMAL ROUTINE/PROCEDURES IN MATTERS OF THIS NATURE , AS IT IS AGAINST LEGAL ETHICS . THIS MONEY WILL STILL BE HELD BY THE ACCOUNTS CLERK UNTIL WE RECIEVE THE FULL AMOUNT FOR THE BILL OF COST AS FOLLOWS ; (blah, blah, blah....)

Thank you barrister, I will be making the payment via moneygram today.

Quote:

Dear Edwina ,

I have being trying all day to reach you by phone but it seems there is a problem with the connection or did you receive my message ? (Really? I wonder why no one at the trailer park picks up?) I am sure this will be the merriest Christmas of my life as i am overjoyed at the opportunity to seal this transaction with you . (Oh no Cole, I doubt that.)

Cole

Now I want to get him on the hook thinking that he's going to get a present from me.
[quote]Cole,
I'm sorry, I've been out all day. I just got home. I've wired the
money to the lawyer by Moneygram. I did forget about the time
difference, so I'm sorry but he probably won't get it until Monday.
Speaking about forgetting, I know that I've only known you for a week,
but you almost seem like another son to me, having helped me with this
deal so much. Could you send me your address? I would love to send
you a slightly delayed Christmas gift.
Have the marriest of Christmases and may all your Christmas dreams come true.
(Which once again is a code for "Burn in hell, mugu!")

At this point I email the barrister so that they think they're getting a payday. This is Christmas Eve.

Quote:

As requested barrister Keyamo, I have sent you $4200 in the name of your associate Aemo Braimah. I assume that this email will not get to you until Monday and I want to wish you the merriest of Christmases. Could you tell me if it is possible to get this transaction completed before the New Year? Icould use the money to pay off my morgage. Again, thank you for your time and all of your help in the matter.

Oh mugu, if you only knew that you were getting a lump of coal in your stocking this year!

Quote:

Edwina ,
Thanks alot for your email message !
I wish you have a wonderful chritsmas , I am quite overjoyed that you have completed the
Payment for the Bill of Cost , Were you able to forward the payment particulars to the Lawyer Yesterday ? Have you recieved the Confirmation of the payment you made from the Lawyer ?You will need to forward detailed payment particulars you were given by MoneyGram When you made the payment before he can be able to recieve the money from MoneyGram .If you have not done this i strongly advice that you do it immediately .As regards your request for my Adress for a gift from you , i will really appreciate this gesture i just told my wife about you ! You can send it through DHL or UPS so i can recieve it here before the new year to my Address :

NO 27 Awake street,
Off Mela Motels Road
Uselu Quarters,
Benin- City
EDO State , NIGERIA .

Please notify me immediately you send it !
I am having the happiest Xmas so far in my life having met some one as wonderful as your self .MerryChristmas ! And i sncerely hope this is just the begining of a wonderful relationship .
Sincerely ,
Cole Nsan

It's Christmas and I take some time off. Cole gets worried that perhaps the sugarplums dancing in his head are _only_ in his head.

Quote:

Dear Edwina ,
How are you ? Did you recieve my first email this morning ? I have being awaiting your response , I am very anxious to verify if you have sent the payments particulars to the attorney , I want to be assured that he will be adequately equipped to carry out his legal Obligations to you in acting as your legal Proxy in this Funds transfer .
How did you celebrate the Christmas ?I hope you had a wonderful day .
keep in touch ,
Sincerely ,
Cole NSAN

Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2005 1:05 am

And the barrister chimes in

Quote:

ATTN : Mrs. Edwina Fink

Dear Client ,

Legal representation on Inheritance funds transfer .
Compliments of the Season ! I just recieved your email but my Accounts Officer ,Informed me that you did not forward any Payment particulars .
Please endeavour to send the complete payment particulars as follows :
CLIENT FULL NAMES .............................
FULL RESIDENTIAL ADRESS ......................
TOTAL AMOUNT PAID ...........................
MONEY TRANSFER CONTROL NUMBER [MTCN].....................
TEST QUESTION / ANSWER .....................

As soon as we recieve the detailed payment particulars ,the chambers will move in swift action to ensure that your inheritance funds is remmitted into your nominated bank account with the Next Two or Three Working Days .
Please endeavour to send the follow items to facilitate your funds release :

1) A valid form of identification (drivers license/
internationalpassport)

2) Your Nominated bank name and address, Account name
and number includng swift code if any.
3)Duly filed copy of cliams certificate already issued and sent to you .
4 Contact Phone and fax numbers .

I await your Swift response
Yours In Service ,
Festus Keyamo LL.B Hons

Stall tactic 24. And this mugu is clueless. You don't need a question/answer for Moneygram. But that doesn't stop me from using it.

Quote:

Barrister Keyamo,
I apologize. I was under the impression that your representative
could pick up the Moneygram with a valid ID. I will have to find the
receipt to give you the transfer number. I did not make up a question
and answer, would this also be something on the receipt?

He still thinks it's pretty much payday.

Quote:

Edwina ,
How are you today ? I hope you are well and fine ! How did you spend Christmas Day !
Did you recieve the emails i sent yesterday ? i am quite anxious to
hear from you . Are you opening a new Bank account for this transaction
or do you intend to open a new one for this transfer ? You will have to send your
Bank a/c details to the Lawyer , I hope you have forwarded the Full payments particulars for the payment you made by MoneyGram to the lawyer ?You must ensure that he has it along with your bank account details so he can move into action on your behalf at the start of work tomorrow .
We are now at the Final Stages of the funds transfer i must have to plead that you endeavour to check your emails at all times and adhere religiously to the Attorneys Intrusctions so we the funds transfer can be effected before the new year .
Endeavour to send a mail as soon as the lawyer contacts you tommorrow morning .
Eagerly awaiting your response .
Sincerely ,Cole

Quote:

Hello Cole,
I hope that you had a wonderful and prosperus Christmas and a Happy
New Year. I have recieved all of your emails including the very nice
card that you sent me. I think that you might have forgotten that I'm
not able to use the computer on religious holidays and Sunday, but
thank you so much for your concerns. I have forwarded the contact
information to the lawyer so he should have the money by now. I
haven't thought about the money transfer, I assumed that he would just
be able to forward it to my current bank account. I'm glad that we're
in the final stages, I could use the money by the 3rd if possible to
pay my morgage as I have sent the lawyer all of my easily available
money.
I will be going to the DHL later today to send you a late Christmas gift.
As ever,
Edwina

The barrister. What? I didn't send the control number? How foolish of me? It's almost like I don't want to send them any money Smile

Quote:

Dear Madam ,
My Accounts officer has not picked the money you sent , You will have to send the Control Number ,
This number must be given to you after you make the payment .
You will also need to provide a test Questions / Answer , You Might need to go back to where you paid this money
so you can have this informations available before this Chambers can proceed in their Duty to you .
I await your immediate response .
Yours In service ,
Barr. Festus Keyamo LL.B Hons

It's now the 28th and they haven't heard from me. The barrister sends another "You didn't send the money" message and I get this from Cole with the subject line of "Anxious!"

Quote:

Dearly Beloved ,
How are you today ? What is the situation ? Have you being able to forward the payments particulars to the Lawyer ? I am really looking forward to the successful completion of this transaction before the weekend , Endeavour to send a mail ,I am really anxious !
Sincerely ,Cole

It looks like I lost a response to Cole here, since he says he was relieved to hear from me, but this is his response and mine.

Quote:

Dear Edwina ,
I am very relieved to hear from you !
How was your weekend ? I really appreciate your Christmas Gift !
When you made the payment via MoneyGram you must be given a number which is the
Money Transfer Control Number , It is also compulsory that you make up test Question /Answer like maybe the Question might be Date of Birth then Answer may 4th 1967 ,
All this is to protect you and MoneyGram so that the money will not be picked up by the wrong person .If you have not given these very important information to The Attorney , there is no way he can pick up the money you have paid .
You might need to go back to where you made the payment so that these information can be given to you .Please do not forget my ealier advice that we remain discreet about everything that relates to this transfer until the funds transfer has being effected which i beleive is just a few days away . You might need to inform the clerk in Moneygram that you made the money to for a distant relation on tour in an African Country ,that is if you need to go back to retrieve this informations !We really have to be very careful now that we are almost at the successfull completion of this transaction .
I am really quite anxious to hear that the lawyer has finnally picked the money , Please you will have to work hard to achieve this today .
THANKS FOR BEING THERE ! (Uh-huh, mugu...)
Sincerely , Cole

Quote:

Hello Cole,
My weekend was wonderful. I had all of the family here and with the
great grandkids we had about 40 people over. I think that
unfourtunetly I may have lost the Monrygram slip in all the Christmas
present wrappings as I had looked all day yesterday and was unable to
find it. I called the Moneygram office and they can't give me the
information over the phone, so I will have to go to the office and get
it. I still don't understand the test question/anwer. I didn't
supply one. Also sorry but in all the searching I wasn't able to send
out ypur gift. I will go to the DHL today after I get the Moneygram
number.
How was your holiday? Were you able to see your relatives too?

Pretty hard to get this guy off script...

Quote:

Thanks alot for your mail , I had a really wonderful time with my Family ,we all went to the zoo for a picknic and came back late in the evening to attend a party held in the family house which is my fathers house . Please make sure that you are able to get the Transfer Number and forward it to the lawyer , I dont think you will need to have a test Question /Answer i just found out that it is only applicable with transactions that has to do with Western Union , I think you will need to inform the attorney about this , But make sure you send the Control number to him today .
Keep in touch .
Sincerely ,Cole

The barrister chimes in.

Quote:

Dear Client ,
I have been expecting to recieve a mail from you on resumption of work today ,
How are you today ?i hope you are in perfect Condition of health .
I Had immediately sent my Accounts officer to the MoneyGram Office here in my country
and he just returned to inform me that what he needs from you now is the Transfer number .This means that you can forget about the Test Question /Answer . (Wow, only took them 4 days to figure this out.)
I hope you will be able to send it before the end of this working day so we can proceed immediately
to procure all other relevant documentations to effect your funds transfer before the new Year .
I await your immediate response .
Yours In Service ,
Festus Keyamo LL.B Hons .

Oh darn, but with Christmas and all, I lost the receipt.

Quote:

Barrister Keyamo,
Terribly sorry, but I seem to have lost the receipt. As it was
Christmas and I had my family over I think that I may have thrown it
out with the paper from the Christmas wrapping. I called the
Moneygram office, but they can't give me the number over the phone.
I will go to the office the first thing today and get the number for
you.

Quote:

ATTN : Mrs. Edwina Fink

Dear Client ,

Legal representation on Inheritance funds transfer .
Compliments of the Season ! I Had a slight problem with my computer yesterday and I am yet to recieve the Transfer number you had promised to send before the end of yesterdays working day .If you sent it before , you should please re-send it as i am yet to recieve it .

Please endeavour to forward the Transfer number IMMEDIATELY so i can fully perform my legal obligations to you ,

I am eagerly awaiting your response .

Yours In Service ,

Barr. FESTUS KEYAMO LL.B HONS .

Stall tactic 35. Act like you sent him the number once already. Plus I give him the wrong number.

Quote:

Barrister Keyamo,
I sent you the Moneygram number on Wednesday, but I will resend it to
you. The number is
46713Z96.

This is something I do that I think most baiters don't. I try to time this so that they go to the Moneygram anyway, but I throw them a bone and contact them with my "mistake" before they email me. I find that this helps build confidence that I'm not fooling with them, I am only dumb.

Quote:

Barrister Keyamo,
I made a mistake in the control number. There is no "Z" in the
number, it's a 2. I misread it off of the slip.

And I can't forget my buddy in all of this.

Quote:

That sounds wonderful Cole. I can't even imagine what a zoo in
Nigeria must be like, I'm sure you must have a fantastic number of
animals there. That's something I'd really like to see one time
before I pass away.
I've sent the control number to the lawyer and he knows that I don't
need to send the question and answer. I had a slight problem with
your gift. The DHL office has closed. Not suprising since Blowfish
is a small town. We have no UPS office nearby but I thought to use
the Post Office. They told me there that there's a problem in Nigeria
with stealing things, but I sent the package registered air mail, so
you shouldn't have a problem getting it.
I think the excitement of the last few days has gotten to me a bit.
I'm not nearly as spry as I used to be and I've come down with a bit
of flu I think. I've had a nasty cough all day long. After sending
the mail to you I think I'm going to have to go to bed early,
Have a wonderful day. With luck, we should be able to get the
transfer done in the next day or tow.

Ah, he cares. Little does he know that this will develop into a "problem" shortly...

Quote:

Dear Edwina ,
How is your health Presently ? i hope a good nite rest was able to offer some relief to your poor health yesterday?Thanks alot for the wonderful gift you had sent , i am really looking forward to recieving it .Do you stay alone ? i was just wondering who will be taking care of you especailly at time like this.
I am quite overjoyed that you have finnally being able to send the Control Number to the
Attorney ! With this we have finnally crossed the only Bridge to the conclusion of the transaction , But i the Lawyer has not being here in the Bank today , Are you sure he got the control number ? has he sent you a confirmation of the reciept of the payment by his legal Chambers ?He is supposed to be at the Bank immediately the fees you sent are collected so he can immediately commence the funds release process on your behalf .You might have to re-send it immediately !if he has not confirmed the reciept of the fees .
Did you send the other requirements that is required to secure the funds release ? Now that we are almost at the end of this transaction i will not want you to make any mistake .Please have a good nite rest and eat more of fruits and vegetables .I am presently awaiting your response before i leave my office today .
Sincerely ,COLE
P:s ; It might intrest you to know that there is a 6 hr Difference between my country and yours ,that means that 7 a.m In Your country is about Midday here , so you have to always check your emails very early in the mornings so you can observe all the directives from the Lawyer in time before the close of the same working Day .I am really looking forward to meeting you face to face soon !

Quote:

Cole,
Thank you for your concern, I am feeling a bit better today but I'm
still a little sick. I spent all of yesterday in bed. To answer your
questions, yes I live alone (my husband passed on 8 years ago) but I
have a "life alert" pendant so that I can call the doctors in an
emergency. Also my 2 sons and my daughter check up on me constantly
as well as some of my grandchildren. My kids want me to go to a
nursing home, but I love living in Blowfish and I would have to move.
I'm actually in very good health other than needing a walker to get
around. However because of my age, little things like a cold tend to
cause problems. I still feel a bit scatterbrained this morning. By
the way, I think that the time distance is more than you think. I'm
on the west coast of the USA, 3 hours before EST. As I write this,
it's 6:30 am my time. I'm not sure, but I think that Nigeria is
probably more than 3 hours plus EST.
I hope you like the package I sent. It's something from my husband
that my sons didn't want. I'm not sure how much you'll have to pay in
customs fees, but I put the amount at $100 so that you wouldn't pay
very much. It's worth quite a bit more. Normally I wouldn't send a
gift like that to someone I just met, but as I had said before, you
feel like another son to me. And the percentage of that 17.5 million
makes up for it, haha!
The lawyer didn't come to the bank because he apparently never got the
email with the Moneygram number. I hope that this won't cause you any
problems, but I am going to resend it and add you to the email. That
way I can make sure that you can help him if he loses the number
again.

And now Edwina goes strangely silent...
To be continued when I have some more time to transcribe some more of the bait. One thing I have learned so far from this is to keep a running edit of the bait if I don't want to give it away by posting parts of it.

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 1:14 am

Since Cole's playing two people, I felt it only fair that I do. Meet Heather, granddaughter of Edwina and looks much like Heather Grahmn (although in this bait, he never gets my picture, so I ran it as a married woman.)

Quote:

Hello, I am Heather Takagema, Edwina's graddaughter. I just wanted you to know that my husband and I made Edwina go to the hospital. She's in no danger, she is just there for observation with a mild case of pneumonia. I'm sure that she told you how old she is; because of
her age we felt it was important to take her. She can be _very_ stubborn but we finally conviced her she needed to go. She told me
that she had some pen pals in Nigeria and that you would be really
concerned if you didn't her from her, so we got your addresses from
her account. If the situation changes, I'll let you know.

Quote:

Dear Heather ,
Thanks alot for your email message , Edwina had informed me of having a mild cold and cough on Monday , I had advised her to take some rest , I am happy that you were able to convince her to be under medical Supervision . I will put her in prayers to The Lord So she can recover speedily .Please i would really appreciate if you have a direct number to call her or maybe you can call me on your own Mobile When any time you go to see her in the Hospital .Also Inform her that the Reference Number she sent is invalid that she has to re-send it immediately making sure that all the Eight Numbers are correct this time .
Happy New Year ,
Sincerely ,
Cole

Yeah, the old lady's in the hospital and I'm going to five you a phone number, rrrrrrrrrrrrrrright....

Quote:

Hi Cole,
Thanks for the email. Edwina is still in the hospital, but as I said
earlier, she's okay. I'm sure you understand that when your as old as
my grandma you've got to be really careful with your health. The
grandkids always say Edwina's 84 ging on 24 Smile

I'll try to see if
there's a phone number you can reach her at. I'll tell her about the
reference number also.

Quote:

Thanks for your email message , I really appreciate it !

Although i have not know your Grandma For a long time , we have gradually grown really close in the past couple of days ,she has really being a new light in my world ! I hope you will keep in touch with me ,Please endeavour to collect the correct reference number from her and send it as soon as you get it ! I sincerely wish she recovers soonest .

I am send an e-card to your account ,endeavour to print and send to her !

Sincerely ,Cole

Quote:

Thank you Cole for the get well card. I was able to show it to
Grandma on my laptop and she really appreciates it. I have good news,
she's going to be released today to go back home. I'll be staying
with her for a few days to make sure that she's okay by herself.
Apparently she had been running around qutie a bit the prior week and
had just exahusted herself. As I said before, grandma's 84 going on
24. She just refuses to slow down even though she's so old.
I was able to find the reference number you were asking for. It's the
reference number on the Moneygram receipt? The number is 46713296.

We now leave Heather, but don't worry she'll be back. I did the sick bit just to waste a couple of days around the New Years. Edwina's back from a meeting with Mr. Death...

Quote:

Dearest Edwina ,
How are you today ? I am sure the nurses would have taken good care of you while you were away at the hospital , i feel you will be getting the email late , You have really wonderful grandchildren , i am quite happy for you as i know there will always be there with their love and care to comfort you when you need it most .The lawyer Barr. Festus KEYAMO was in the Bank today where he dropped a letter of Appeal to the General Mangerof the BANK to extend your funds transfer to the next year as you his client he has being unable to come upwith the complete charges to process the the relevant affidavits/Documentations for your case file funds to secure .
I hope you get well soonest so we can proceed to happy and prosperous new Year Together .
Keep in touch
Yours Sincerely ,Cole

And Cole also writes back to Heather.

Quote:

Hello Heather ,

I am very happy that My bosom Friend ,your Grandma is finally leaving the hospital . It is a very good idea that you are staying with her for a couple of days ! i am looking forward to hearing from you on a regular basis throughout your stay with her . Although i have not met her face to face , i feel like i have known her all my life , I am already looking forward to meting her face to face soon .

As regards the reference number on the money Gram receipt ,it was exactly the same number she had sent before but I am afraid that the Lawyer that is handling the funds transfer into Edwinas Bank account informed me that number was declared is invalid by MoneyGram when his accounts office wanted to pick it up .
Let me also use this opportunity to inform you that the Attorney Barr. Festus Keyamo has already sent an application to the bank on behalf of the Mrs Edwina Fink requesting for a re-assignment of credit from her late relative , and transfer of the funds to her.This is the first step which has already being accomplished, Now as the authorized beneficiary of the funds Investment Banking and Trust Company will now be mandated to transfer the total funds of the deceased to her after you will have fulfilled all the probate requirements which will be carried out by the attorney according to Nigerian laws. As the Named Beneficiary ,she is the only person with legal rights to this funds , We have gotten to the final stages of the funds transfer and the funds would have since being transfered but for her sudden ill health and the invalid Reference number as the money was meant to secure relevant affidavits and documentations in order to effect the funds release .
If we continue to work together as a team we will be able to effect the funds transfer into her nominated Bank account before the week runs out with the assistance and co-operation of the lawyer . What i want you to do now is to go to the MoneyGramm Office and inform them that the reference number is invalid , hence funds has not yet being picked up , i think you might have to tell them to issue a different and valid Reference number this time .
I am quite eager to see to the successful completion of this transaction as i have invested a lot of funds into this and i also intend to travel over to the states to pay Edwina A visit after the successful completion of this transaction . I hope i can trust you to see to the successful conclusion of this transaction .
My warm regards to Edwina !
Sincerely ,Cole

It's now the 4th of January and Edwina comes back into the picture. I must say this for Cole, he at least cares a little for Edwina. Admittedly it's because Edwina is a meal ticket, but I've met some real scumbags in this hobby. I kept laying the guild trip on Cole throughout this bait, but he never cracked.

Quote:

Dear Cole,
This is Edwina, how are you! Bless you for all the warm sentiment and
the cards that you sent. Heather and her husband insisted that I go
to the hospital, but all I needed was a little rest and I was fine. I
think that they just go into a panic when I'm not all spunky because
of my age.
Did you get the package yet? Do you like the Blanc Pain? (to the unknowing (and I was one), a Blanc Pain is worth much more than a Rolex) My sons wanted my husband's Rolexes, but I understand that this is an even better watch. As to the number, I will call the Moneygram office when they open up and get this straightend out right away.
Have a WONDERFUL day,
Your bosom friend, Edwina

Quote:

ATTN : Mrs. Edwina Fink
Date : 31st December 2004
Dear Client ,
Legal representation on Inheritance funds transfer
How are you now ? I was informed that you were hospitalized for some days in order
for you to regain your full health .I am sure the Good LORD who offers health to all that believe will refresh your body and soul all through this new year .
I realize that you might read this email late , But My Accounts Officer Mr. Aemo Braimah Was at the office of the MoneyGram Money Transfer today and was informed that the Transfer Number you sent was Invalid . I believe you had misread one of the Numbers from the slip, as a result of the incorrect transfer number you sent the money was not paid out the Accounts Officer , he was advised to get in touch with the Client to supply the correct numbers .
What you must do now is to take a careful look at the Numbers on the Pay slip and re-send it immediately .
Be informed that an appointment has being fixed o your funds for the First week Of January 2005 with the Director of Foreign /International Transfer at the CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA on the Matter of the transfer of your funds into your nominated Bank Account .
I hope you will send the VALID transfer number immediately to enable this legal chambers proceed on your behalf .
Yours In Service ,
Barr. FESTUS KEYAMO LL.B HONS

Problem? There's a problem?

Quote:

Barrister Keyamo,
Yes, I was in the hospital for a few days because of pneumonia and
exhaustion. I am back home now. The number that I gave you is the
one that is on the receipt, so there's some sort of problem with the
Moneygram office. I think it's been a couple of weeks since the money
was transfered. Is it possible that the money reverts back to the
sender if the receiver hasn't picked it up? I don't know about those
things. I will call up the Moneygram office this morning as soon as
they open and get the problem fixed.

Quote:

Dear Client ,
I am happy to hear that you are well and fine .
I will first of all wish you a happy new year and am must say this year will
make a tremendous change in your life as you reecieve your estate of The total sum of $17.5 Millon.
As regards the your case of legal representation in this legal chambers please be informed that your request for the transfer of your inheritance funds has remained at a standstill as my Accounts clerk has being unable to receive the payment you made via MoneyGram Funds Transfer .

As soon as you are able to send valid transfer number , we will be empowered to proceed to present your claims before the Bank .
I await your response .
Yours in service .
Barr. Festus Keyamo LL.B Hons

He is a persistant one. I get this about 2 hours later.

Quote:

Dear Client ,

Legal Representation on inheritance funds transfer
I have being expecting to recieve a a mail from you before .I hope you are well and fine ,I hope you understand that this legal Chambers is not at liberty to present your case whenever we deem fit as there are governmental bodies and financial institutions involved .
Further more we just recieved a fax message from The office of the Director of foriegn /International remmittance in the Central Bank of Nigeria informing us that your an appointment has being fixed for the January 7th of January for the presentation of your request for the release of your funds by this legal Chambers .
Please note that any disruption of this slated date for the consideration of the approval of the transfer of the total sum of $ 17.5 Million... Blah,blah,blah, frogs falling from this skies, dogs and cats living in sin...

I push him a new reference number right before I tell him why he can't pick the money up.

Quote:

Barrister Keyamo,
Hope this email finds you well. My graddaughter has been helping me
with our project and she's just gotten off with the Moneygram Office.
We talked with them at length yesterday and they are telling Heather
that the money is awaiting receipt and that there aren't any problems
with the reference number that we gave you. Obviously you've been in
contact with Cole Nsan who's been an invaluble help to us reguarding
this transaction. The Moneygram Office here asked us to verify that
you had the correct reference number one more time and that you were
sure that the person picking up the money had a valid ID. They felt
that might have been the cause of the problem. Cole has assured us
that this isn't the problem so I had the office generate an new
reference number. The number is 81768923. Hopefully we can complete
this process in a timely manner. While I am certainly nor blaming you
for the delays (heaven knows several of the problems have been mine),
because I was sick I overdrafted my bank account for the morgage
payment. So not only did I have to use a bond to pay the morgage and
lose the interest on it, I had to pay a penalty for the overdraft.
Sadly being sick and incapacitated in a hospital isn't an excuse to
miss a morgage payment with my bank. I suspect once we complete the
transaction, I will need to find a new bank.

Poor mugu, I ,err, "forgot" to mail that package, but I'm glad you're giving me excuses for you not getting it yet.

Quote:

Hello Edwina ,
I am quite excited to hear from you ! i really hope you are well and fine now ? It was all so sudden , I was really surprised to recieve Heathers Mail , I almost ran into a panic , but i prayed to the Lord to give you all the strength you might need . Thanks for the package but i am yet to recieve it , Maybe the Holidays must have made the post much slower . But i am really looking forward to it .
I also just recievedd a mail from Heather . As regards the Payment you made for the fees for the Bill of Cost as required by the Lawyer , what we must have to do now is to have MoneyGram Regenerate another reference number which is valid so the Lawyer can immediately proceed to ensure that the Total Funds of Us $ 17.5 Million which you have being named beneficiary is wired into your Bank Account via Telegraphic Bank Transfer .
I will be expecting to hear from you as soonest .
Yours Sincerely ,Cole

Quote:

Hi Cole, hope today is a blessing for you too!
Darn! I messed up the suprise(nah, I wanted him to really want that package) I really expected that it would only take a week for you to get that pacakge. Do you have any idea how long it takes for registered airmail to get to Nigeria? Oh well, I hope you like the watch anyway.
As to my health, I'm back to my old self. I really think I didn't
need to stay in the hospital. All I needed was a couple of days of
rest. You know how the holidays tend to wear you out. Heather is a
sweet girl, but she worries too much. She's here for another couple
of days, but she really should go back to colledge.
As to the lawyer, I emailed him another reference number a few minutes
ago. That should be the end of it and we should be able to get on
with this. One thing I forgot to ask you, when we get done with this
can you come and visit? I would love to see you up close and
personal.
Stay well,
Edwina

Quote:

Dear Edwina ,
Thanks alot for your email , It really brightened up my Day !
I was at the post office yesterday and was informed that it would take about 14 working days for the package to be delivered .I am quite impressed by the efforts Heather has put in so far , I am sure the transaction will be completed before she goes back to college .
I am also looking forward to meeting you in person , In this direction i think i will need to visit the American Embassy here in my country before the end of today to make inquires as regards the Visa requirements.
I am overjoyed that you have being able to get another reference number to enable the Lawyer recieve the Fees .I will expect to hear from you as soon as you hear from the Lawyer , Please endeavour to adhere religously to all the directives from the lawyer so we can get to the successful completion of this transaction before the weekend .
Sincerely , Cole

Once again, the barrister can;t get the virtual money.

Quote:

ATTN: Mrs Edwina Fink
Date : 6Th January 2004

Dear Client ,
How are you today ! I hope this letter meets you in the best Health Conditions .
My Accounts Officer was at the MoneyGram Office this morning again and i was quite embarrased to be informed that the reference number you sent again is INVALID . The MoneyGram Office here insists that the order is not in its system ,therefore the money can not be paid out .
First of all let me rule out any suggestion that my Accounts Officer has no Valid ID , As he has one and this is not the first time he is handling similar transactions . MoneyGram has being putting this transaction on hold for too long ,therefore i have lost total confidence in their ability to make the funds available to this Legal Chambers.
Let me not also fail to remind you that an appointment has being for tomorrow with Director of Foreign/International Remmitance In The Central Bank Of Nigeria , considering the short time frame , i will have to work round the clock to perform my legal Obligations to you .
The only Option left to us now is for you to immediately withdraw the money from MoneyGram As i am no longer prepared to work with them again ,You will have to immediately make the payment via Western Union and make the payment Directly to my Accounts Officer with the Particulars below :
Aemo Braimah
54 Uwasota Road ,
Benin -city ,
Edo State ,Nigeria

This seems to be a cultural thing. If I went to the Moneygram and there was no money there, I wouldn't be "embarrased". I ask about this, but sadly get no answer back on the subject. I remind him why we're using Moneygram in the hopes of pushing off the real reason at least a couple more trips.

Quote:

Barrister Keyamo,
If you would like me to withdraw the money from Monreygram this is not
a problem. However, I need to remind you that I can not just run down to the Western Union
as I can the Moneygram office. I need to go to Battle Mountain and I
have to use a mountain pass that is often closed with snow this time
of year. I've called the Moneygram office and talked to them and once
again they tell me that the money is awaiting pickup. They asked me
to check two things. One is that the person picking the money up is
Aerno Braimah (the thought was perhaps you're sending another
assistant to pick the money up.) Obviously from the instructions you
just gave me, this is the correct person. The other is to ask you
where the money is being picked up. Moneygram should be able to call
that location and find out what the problem is.
So we can resolve this problem with Moneygram or I will withdraw the
money and send it via Western Union as soon as possible. I'll await
your response to this message before I do anything else.
Why are you embarrassed by the way? It seems like a communications
problem, I wouldn't think that it's anything to be embarressed about?

Cole chimes in. The mugu that does this is at least smart enough to wait a little while before sending me messages. I've had mugus with multiple personality disorders send me 2 or more emails from various people all at the same time.

Quote:

Dear Edwina ,
I just recieved a Telephone call from the Lawyer , It seems he is having the same problem with the new reference number with MoneyGram , To tell you the truth , I am a bit confused myself .

Barr. Keyamo now insists that the money must be paid by Western Union . Have you being notified by the Attorney that there is an important meeting tomorrow as regards this funds Transfer .You have to ensure that the Attorney recieves the Complete fees for the Bill of Cost in time so that he can adequately present your request for the Transfer of the Total Sum Of $17.5 Million from Investment Banking and Trust Company into your nominated Bank account before the Director of Foreign/ International Remittance In the Central Bank of Nigeria , Which is the apex finanacial institutions that regulates such huge funds transfers .
I want you to ensure that you witdraw your money immediately from MoneyGram and make the payment by Western Union before the end of today .
I am anxiously waiting to hear from you .
Sincerely ,Cole

Quote:

Hi Cole,
It's so wonderful to hear from you today. I just received an email
from the lawyer. He told me about the problem with Moneygram. I
called the Moneygram office and they seem to think that the problem is
with the Benin City branch. They asked me to make sure that the
person picking the money up was the person listed as the receiver on
the Moneygram order and also to find out where the branch/bank is that
the Moneygram was being picked up. They want to phone the branch to
find out why they are listing the number as bad when it's listed here
as waiting to be picked up. Anyway, I reminded the laywer Keyamo that
the reason we used Moneygram in the first place is that it's not as
easy for me to get to a Western Union branch. Anyway, I'm sure that
we can get past this problem and move on with the transaction.
So how are you today? How is your family? I hope you are doing well.
You really brighten my day when I get an email from you, I so enjoy
my penpals from Africa. I can tell that Barrister Keyamo is really a
nice guy deep down, but he comes across as a bit of a stuffed shirt.
However, when I see your email, I just get a smile even before I open
it.(But probably not for the reasons you expect.)
Also thanks for your kind words about Heather. She's been a big help
with this whole thing. I'm going to miss her, but she needs to get
back to the University tomorrow.

At this point, probably because of my last message to Cole, the barrister is a bit less of a jerk.

Quote:

ATTN : Edwina Fink
Date : 6th January 2004

Dear Client ,
I just received your e-mail and must say that i did not mean to get you agitated unnecessarily but i my primary goal is to ensure that i am able to submit the complete files for your inheritance funds transfer before the Director of Foreign/International remittance tomorrow .
Considering the little time we have and i will advice that you withdraw the money immediately and make the Payment Via Western Union to my Assistant Aemo Braimah who has being going repeatedly to MoneyGram Here in Benin - City .To the best of my Knowledge MoneyGram has proved to be totally undependable and can not be trusted any longer to handle this transaction most especially at this critical timing I believe this is the best option in the Best available now .
I am quite sorry for the inconvenience this might cause you but perhaps your granddaughter could be of help to ensure that you are able to make the Payments today . I will be expecting to receive the full payments particulars for the payment via western union first thing in the morning tomorrow so i can fully represent you in the meeting Scheduled for 12 Noon .I really hope i will not be dissaponted .
Please i will really appreciate if you treat this affair with the Urgency it now deserves .
Yours In Service ,
Barr. Festus Keyamo LL.B Hons

Quote:

Barrister Keyamo,
I apppreciate your help, but I think that you have to keep the
timezone differnce in mind. Because we are something like 8-10 hours
different, it's very hard to get the communication to the point where
I can turn something around in one day even if I have Heather here
with me. I received your communication at 8:00 this morning my time.
It will still be another two hours before I can go to the Moneygram
store and withdrawl the money. So even if I were to have read your
email earlier than this I still would have been unable to act on it
before noon your time the following day. I will go down to the store
the moment it opens and withdraw the funds and I will contact you
after I do that.
I should also mention that while Heather is a help, the biggest
problem is simply getting over the mountain this time of year. I made
Heather leave early today because snow was predicted and it is really
coming down right now. I know that the pass will be closed today,
making it impossible to go to Battle Mountain even if I can find
someone to take me there.
Anyway, I'll contact you once I have withdrawn the money so that we
can at least get that behind us.

Cole has a personal tragedy. I will file the daughter for much later... This is another gambit I never understood. At some point in a long bait a lot of them will pull out the "I've been sick", "My mother died" card. Sometimes they ask for money, sometimes not.

Quote:

Dear Edwina ,
How are you today ? I am sorry i could not respond to your email in time , My little Daughter had a slight accident yesterday and i had to take her to the Hospital . I understand that the Western Union Office is not too convienent for you but with the present circumstances and the Failure of MoneyGram to carry out their obligation , i insist that you must have to adhere to the Attorneys instruction that the money should be paid by Western Union . I hope you will be very carefull this time and send the valid Transfer number to the Attorney . You will have to make up a test question / answer for the transaction .
Please i am really getting anxious as we have kept this transaction on hold for too long and there is an important meeting with a top Governement official today .Have you being able to repay the money by western union , I am really getting worried by this undue delays imposed on this transaction by MoneyGram.
I hope that you will be able to get everything straigtened out today .
My warm regard to Heather as she goes back to Campus , I hope to keep in touch with her by email .I await your response .I hope you understand the need to be discreet about this transaction until we have successfully wired the funds into your account after which i will travel down to the states to meet you ,my wonderful Friend.
Sincerely .Cole

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 1:39 am

Quote:

Hello Cole,
I am so sorry to hear about your daughter. Is she okay? I hope that
it wasn't too serious even though you took her to the hospital. How
old is she? What's her name? I only thought you had a son since he
was the only one in the picture you sent me.
I talked to the lawyer and found out that he had scheduled a meeting
at noon today. Since there's a huge time difference I had to explain
to him that I wouldn't even be able to withdraw the money until
something like 4-6 pm your time. Anyway, I'll be going down there
first thing to withdraw the money.
Heather liked you too from the start, I hope you'll keep in touch with
her. She went back to the University early this morning since we were
supposed to get a very bad snowstorm. Right now it's really coming
down outside. Just out of curiosity, have you ever seen snow? I know
that it's probably never snowed in Nigeria. Anyway, I don't know if I
ever mentioned it, but Heather is getting a masters degree in
Political Science. Her husband is working as a vetenarian to put them
both through school.
Anyway, I hope you have a wonderful day. Tell your daughter (and your
son) that I said hello.

I wasn't sure where I was going with the Vet idea, but sometimes I just throw stuff out to see if it can be used later.
He tries to tug on my heart strings and sends me a different picture of his virtual three kids. When this scam opened he had a wife and son and now that seems to have changed.
I must mention here that something must not have sorted right in my gmail folders. He references that the money is in Benin rather than Benin City (funny how often that happens.) I think that this and maybe a couple of the other messages in the daughter thread happened after I made the Safari request. Since I'm not sure what actually goes where, I'm going to leave them in the order I originally transcribed them.

Quote:

Hello Edwina ,
I am must first of all thank you for your concern over my Daughter Annie ,
She accidentally ran into a car with her bicycle , It was just a slight brusie she sustained but i had to make sure she was well taken care of ,Since i lost their mother some 3 Years ago
I have only my Younger sister who stays with us to take care of them .I have three kids Fredrick ,Annie and Adesuwa .I have attached a copy of their picture (It was taken some years back when they were much younger)I was surprised to learn that Heather is doing her Masters Degree , I had thought she was doing her first degree,Her Husband(Fred) must really be very nice , I had noticed that she was sending her e-mails from his E-mail account ,
The Attorney spoke to me on phone yesterday , he informed me that you had explained that the money was mistakenly paid to Benin Republic Instead of Benin -City , Nigeria .I think the mistake must have being the single reason why his Accounts Officer has not being able to collect the fees . He mentioned that you had informed him that it would take some weeks before MoneyGram Can retrieve the money ,Considering the single fact that any delays at this point will not be in the best of your intrest he had mentioned that his Accounts Officer will be have to travel over to Benin Republic to collect the fees , I am sure that this can be accomplished within the next working Day .The Attorney had mentioned that you will have to provide the Funds for the Travel expenses , i hope you will not have any problem doing , Talking of Snow , i have or rather we have never seen here in our country because of the Weather conditions here but we do see lots of Snow in Movies .
I hope you have a wonderful weekend .
Sincerely ,Cole

I should mention that I look at the weather for central Nevada in the unlikely event that these guys do. The snowfall actually happened which made my inability to get over the mountain pass pretty convincing.

Quote:

Cole,
I am so glad that you have been blessed with such beautiful children.
I am happy to hear that Annie is okay and also sad to hear about your
wife. The picture you originally sent me must have been from a few
years ago as it had your wife in it.
If you have no snow in Nigeria, you can have some of ours right now,
ha! We had a really huge snowfall in this area. In the winter
sometimes we can get as much as one foot, but this last weekend we got
over 4 feet! I can't even leave my house at the moment because of all
the snow outside

It's now Jan 9. I took a couple of days off.

Quote:

Hi Edwina ,

How are you today ? I hope you had a wonderful day today in the presence of the Lord at Church , Did you recieve my previous email message ? I have being trying times without number to get in touch with you through the phone number you had ealier provided but there is always a problem with the connection , Can you perhaps send a number where i could easily reach you ? I am eagerly looking forward to the recieving the Xmas Present you sent and most importantly the successful completion of this transaction this week.

Have a joy filled week !

Sincerely ,Cole

Quote:

Hello Cole,
It took me until this afternoon to write you as my computer connection
was down because of the weather. What kinds of problems are you
having with the phone? Heather called me today and had no problem.

At this point I lower the boom on the Moneygram problem. It will require a little safari to get the money. As I mentioned earlier, I'd hoped to get them to go to their locl MG a few extra times, but they seem to be insistant about WU.

Quote:

Barrister Keyamo,

I've been on the phone to the Moneygram office and now I at least have
discovered the nature of the problem. Apparently someone got confused
with the name of the city. Instead of sending the money to Benin
City, Nigeria it was sent to BANQUE INT'L DU BENIN in the country of
Benin. It could be picked up in the bank's branches at CONTONOU,
PARAKOU, or PORTO-NOVO (I am looking these up on the web, obviously I can't spell that well.)
Not only did they mess this up, but because they took so long to
figure this out, the Benin bank is auditing the remaining Moneygram
transfers from 2004. The money is available at the branch banks, but
I was told that it would take 1-2 weeks before the money was released
for return.
I'd like your thoughts on what we might be able to do to move this
transaction along. Since you are a barrister, do you perhaps have
contacts in Benin that might be able to help free this money up?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this manner.

The barrister is a little brighter than I thought. I'm going to have to figure a way out of this, but for the time being I'll let him think the check's in the mail.

Quote:

ATTN : Edwina Fink
7th January 2005
Dear Client ,
I am in reciept of your email and all its contents was quite understood . i am very much relieved that we have finnally come to the crux of the matter .
The only option available to this chambers is for my Accounts Officer to Travel Down to Benin Republic to collect the fees as he is the only person who the funds can be paid out to .
In this direction , you will have to make available the sum of $200 to cover the travel expenses as he will have to travel over immediately , This is the only option available .You will have to make this payment via MoneyGram with the excatly the particulars below :
Aemo Braimah
54 Uwasota Road .
Benin-city
Edo State .
Nigeria .
As soon as My accounts officer collects the full payment for the Bill of Cost , We will reshedule another appointment with the Director for foreign and international relations .I hope Mr. Aemo Braimah ,My Accounts officer will not have any problem this time around .
I Will be expecting to hear from you immediately .
Yours In Service ,
Barr. Festus Keyamo LL.B Hons

I need to think my way out of this one, so I'll use the it's snowing excuse.

Quote:

This is acceptable to me, I will wire you the money as soon as I can leave the house. At the moment, there is four feet of snow outside.

Oh yeah, this is Moneygram's fault. Why not make them pay?

Quote:

Barriester,
I started thinking about this and I realized why should you or I have
to pay anything for this? It's not our fault this money got sent to
the wrong location, it's Moneygram. Since I'm still stuck in the
house, I contacted our local branch and they got me in touch with the
main office. They have agreed that this is their fault and they're
willing to compansate Aerno to go get the money. All he'll have to do
is keep his receipts so that they can reimburse him for his travel.
If you need to talk to someone about this, they gave me this number to
call:
6097299928 (This number is a recording that says something like "You can't connect to this phone with your carrier.")
Give them the Moneygram number and they can tell you where you need to send the receipts, or perhaps he just reimbursed at the bank in Benin.

Have a wonderful day,
Edwina.

12 Jan. Wow. No problems with this, he agrees to the safari. In all honesty I think that they called a mate in Benin because he doesn't get upset about it later, but I'm counting it!

Quote:

ATTN :Edwina Fink

Date : 12th January 2004

Dear Client ,

RE: LEGAL REPRESENTATION ON INHERITANCE CLAIM
we refer to the above subject matter.

Sequel to your above requested representation at all confirmable Sectors in Nigeria in the matter of the transfer of the total sum of Us$ 17.5 Million .I would not to put this transaction on hold for too long as a result of the funds required by my Accounts officer for the Travel expenses hence i have sent him to Benin Republic this morning to effect the release of the funds required to present your clims before the director of forein/internatinal transfer in the Central Bank of Nigeria .
Let me also use this oppurtunity to inform you that another date hs being fixed for the meeting with Dr. MAMUD BELLO for 19TH Of January 2005 .
However, for our unencumbered representation please Send to us items stated below :

(A) Evidence of Deposit of the said inheritance.

(B) Your Nominated bank name and address, Account name
and number includng swift code if any.
( D)Death Certificate of your late Relative

I will get back to you immediately my Accounts Officer gets back from Benin Republic today .
Yours In Service ,
Barr. Festus Keyamo

Quote:

Barrister,

Thank you for doing what you can to move this file along. Didn't I
already send you the Evidence of Deposit? I thought that I had
attached it to the email. I will need to get the Death Certificate
and the following is my bank information:
1st National Bank of Blowfish
425 Henderson Dr.
Blowfish Nevada
7200-7845
Swift: KRFDBEBB IBAN: BE41-4829-0600-3810

Was there a C) instruction associated with this?
Once again, thank you for your time.

I'm not sure why Cole starts asking me these questions, but this is probably furthest off script I got with him.

Quote:

Hello Edwina ,
I have being kept busy at work lately ,
how are you today ? has the snowfalls reduced ? how is the weather now ?How do you keep warm in this harsh weather condistions ? can you go outside now ? i really hope you do not mind the many questiions . I am only trying to picture everything in my imagaination .
i was glad to hear that Heather called . Have you heard anything from the attorney ?He has not being at the bank . I have just being informed from a reliable source that another date has being fixed with the Government Representatives that will look into this request for the funds release . It is usually normal banking procedures for a clearance authorization to be issued from the Director of Foreign / International Remmitance for funds release of Us $ 5,000,000 and Above .
I hope we are able to clear things up before the date of the re-scheduled meeting because it will obviously not be in the best of our intrest to request for another shift to facilitate adequate preparations by your Attorney as this may put you the Beneficiary of the funds in Bad light before this important government official .I will expect to hear from you soonest .

Sincerely,Cole

Quote:

Hi Cole.
I was going to write you today since I hadn't heard from you
yesterday. I always like to hear from you.(because that way I know I'm wasting your time Smile

The temperature is warming now, but we still have a lot of snow around. They finally got to my street and got it cleared. I was able to get the local boys to shovel my steps and I now can get the grocery store to deliver food to my house (where we live, we sometimes have to have a week worth of food in the house during the winter since it may take that much time for the store to get to you or you to get to the store.)
Yes I talked to the lawyer. He wanted me to pay them $200 to enable
them to go to Benin to pick up the Moneygram. I didn't mind paying
the fee, but I started thinking that I shouldn't pay anything when
Moneygram made the mistake. I talked to Moneygram and got them to
agree to reemburse the lawyer for his expense. So it now looks like
this is going forward again. He did ask me for the Death Certificate.
Did you send me that? I recall a deposit certificate but not a death
certificate.
I must admit, I find the pace that this is going quite interesting.
In the United States it often takes a year or more for the funds in an
account to be dispersed.
Is the $5000 you mentioned another fee or is it our combined cost so
far? Haven't you paid $6000 into this so far? At this rate, there
isn't going to be any money left in the account, ha!
I hope your children are doing fine, tell them I said hello. I notice
you didn't mention the watch. Are you still waiting for the package?

God Bless you all,
Edwina.

Cole is still looking forward to his virtual present.

Quote:

Hi ,
I am quite relieved to hear that the weather is improving and that you have also being in communication with the lawyer , I am sure you must have misunderstood what i meant in my last e-mail . I did not mention that i had made additional payments but i had only informedyou that it was part of the regulations here that any large money tansfers overseas exceeding $5,000,000 ( 5Million Us Dollars ),Will need a clearance authorization from the Director of Foreign/International remiitance in the Central Bank of Nigeria before the transfer can be effected via Electronic Bank Transfer.I am yet to recieve the wonderful christmas gift you sent.I am expecting them any moment now as tommorrow is the 14th Day and the post office had ealier informed me that it will take 2 weeks for it to be delivered . A copy of the Death Certificate was also sent along with the deposit Certificate .I will strongly advice that you remain in continual communication with your lawyer and adhere strictly to his regulations.

I am eagerly lookingforward to meeting you in person soonest , maybe i will finnally see the Snow for myself.
Sincerely ,Cole

Oh no, the barristers employee goes all the way to Benin and the money's not there! How suprising!

Quote:

ATTN: Mrs Edwina Fink

Dear Client ,
My Accounts Officer has just returned from Benin Republic where he was at the BANQUE INT'L DU BENIN ,Cotonou Branch . And i regret to inform you that the Reference number was once again rejected as the transaction was not in the system.And the funds not paid out to him.
I sincerely hope this new development will not jeopardize the appointment that has being fixed for Midweek next week to finalize the transfer ofyour funds out of Investment Banking and Trust Company IBTC to your Nominated Bank address in the US .I await your suggestions on how we can move this transaction forward .
Yours In Service ,
Barr. Festus Keyamo LL.B Hons

Quote:

Barrister Keyamo,
I don't understand this! I called the Moneygram office and they tell
me that the money was picked up yesterday. Are you sure that you
understood your accounts officer correctly? Do I need to file some
sort of claim that the money was stolen? I had thought since the
money had been picked up, that the transaction was now progessing
properly!

And Cole picks up on the conversation with a subject line of "God is in control!"

Quote:

Dear Edwina ,
How are you today ? i hope this e-mail meets you well . I was on a telephone conversation this morning with the Attorney representing you Barr. Festus Keyamo , His Tone was quite bitter as he informed me that his Accounts Officer returned from Benin Republic yesterday without successfully collecting the fees you had paid via MoneyGram . This was quite shocking to me as i had felt that we had finnally being able to get to the roots of this problem , With this new development Chances are that we might not be able to meet up all the requirements before the very re-sheduled meeting with the Director of Foriegn / International Remmitance .This will obviously not be in the best of our intrest because apart from potraying you in bad light before this important Government Official we might also stand the risk of having to wait for another 3 to 4 Months if this funds transfer is not effected within the next couple of days as this might mean that we will miss the first payment quarter of this year and must have to wait for the next payment quuater.

Dear friend , i have not a penny to my name anymore,all gone into making sure this transaction sail to it present level.I would have gladly made this payment myself but with the delay we have compounded and the upcomming meeting after which the funds will be wired directly into your account , I have no options left but to ask you to make another payment as it is obvious that this money must have to be returned by MoneyGram after it would have being sent backbefore anybody can have access to it .The Mistake was not your fault but i agree but i must have to look for immediate solutions considering the Large amount at stake .

But considering the little time we have , it would not be advisable that we wait for MoneyGram to repay the money you have ealier wired to the Lawyer . You will have to source for funds and make anoth er payment and you can now replace the money after MoneyGram repays the money that got mixed up .This is the only option that can move this transaction forward .
I beg you to put in that final blow from within.Let the lords spirit guide you.I hope you pray,cause i do.We really need the lord now.Try to pay up so that the Attorney will have enough time to put everything in place in time.I strongly believe in you and have always believed in you.Endeavour to strive hard and notify me as soon as you make the payment , Please make sure you do not make any mistake this time When sending the payment Particulars to the Attorney .I Hope you will be able to make this payment before the weekend .I hope you also understand that we will have to settle all expense incured by both parties before the reminder will be shared in the agreed ratio.

I presently have nothing to say or do,but pray to the lord to help you as you help us .I await your response my dear friend.
Sincerely ,Cole
P:s How is the weather now ?i hope you it has gotten much better ! i sent an e-mail to Heather yesterday but she has not replied yet .

At this point I realize that I need to do some pretty serious acting to keep the bait alive and I want to set myself up for another extended hospital stay (this time from a heart attack from the stress of all this.) Normally I would send at this point a scan of the Moneygram receipt, but I think this is some of my best prose in this bait so far.

Quote:

Cole,
I hate to ask you this, but how well do you know the Barrister? I am
very upset and confused at this moment. I'm glad I can write this
rather than try to talk, because I'm filling up with tears. He has
told me that his account officer told him that the money wasn't
released to him. I'd checked with the Moneygram earlier and they told
me that the money had been picked up on the 13th, so I thought that
everything was okay. I don't like to think bad things about people,
but it's very suspisious to me that the officer goes to the bank and
tells the Barrister that the money isn't there, but at the same time
Moneygram tells me it's been picked up. Cole, it could have been
stolen at the branch, but doesn't that seem to be very convienent
timing to you? That's why I ask. Now I have to call up the Moneygram
and see if I can find out who picked it up and what I have to do to
report a theft.
Honestly Cole, I am really depressed about this result. After all the
work that We've done, I thought we could finally wrap all of this up
in a few days. I just don't know what to do about this my dear
friend. And I'm just bursting into tears thinking about how you've
spent all of your money on this project and I can't seem to get a
thing done!
Cole, I'm just so upset I can't think right now. Please tell me what
you think we should do to move this along. I have more money, so I
don't have to wait for Moneygram to recover what has been stolen. I
just keep hoping that the lawyer misunderstood his assistant and the
money really did get picked up.
Cole, I'm really, REALLY sorry all of this is happening to you. I'm
hoping that perhaps you can come up with an idea, I'm just all spent
out.

Edwina becomes uncommunicative. Because she's in the hospital... However, it seems from the email she gets that they bought the sob story.

Quote:

Dear Edwina ,
Your email came as quite a shocking surprise to me , Let me begin by informing you that Barr. Festus Keyamo Is a highly reputable lawyer here in my country that is why i recommended him in the first place , A man of his years of legal practice behind him will surely employ honest people to work with him .The idea of his Accounts officer collecting the funds and not informing him accordingly is obviously an impossiblity .
I think someone in MoneyGram Played a foul play ,Why did have to make such a mistake in the first place ? I am sure it must have being at the Cotonou office ,Maybe the decided to cheat the Accounts Officer as he was not their National .
I will not want this misfortune to draw us back or put this transaction on a standstill .Time is obviuosly not on our side .Moreover with the delay we have compounded .
What i will advice you do now is to make a fresh payment possibly with Western Union but if you are unable to use Western Union you can as well use MoneyGram but make sure you are able to make the payment today and forward the valid payment particulars so that the Attorney will have enough time to make adequate preparations for the processing of your funds release files before the meeting Scheduled for Midweek next week .

I had not expected that this transaction will take this long but you will have to expiedite action so that your request for the funds release is approved by the Director of Foreign / International remmitance and the transfer effected this first Quater of the year . I await your swift response .

Sincerely ,Cole

Quote:

ATTN : Mrs Edwina Fink
Date :14TH January 2005
Dear Client ,
I have just received your e-mail and must comment that the contents was kind of strange ,Please be informed that the Integrity of My Accounts Officer is unquestionable as this is not the first time he is handling similar transaction .The problem obviously must be from the MoneyGram Officials , Do not forget also that the money was supposed to have being picked up weeks ago when it was paid .
Let me also not fail to inform you that the integrity and reputation of this legal Chambers is at stake presently as i can not and will not be able to re-shedule another appointment with the Director of Foreign / International Remittances after having failed to adequately present your request for release of your funds into your Bank account .
I Hope you will agree with me if i say that this chambers has done its best in acting as your legal proxy in this affair .
As your legal representative ,i will advice that considering the fact that we do no not have any time to waste ,you should immediately make another payment pending when you are able to rectify the problem with the first payment you made ,thus i will expect to receive the Valid Payment particulars for the Charges made payable to my Accounts Officer Mr. AEMO BRAIMAH .
Please note that failure to adhere strictly to this directive might compelled this legal Chambers to consider possible withdrawal of its Services and hence cease to act as your legal proxy in this Affair .I await your response while i sincerely hope to continue to offer my services to you .

Finally, It would be important you immediately alert me on what your intentions are to enable us determine our next line of action in regards to how you will effect a successful transfer of your funds.

Please notify me as soon as you make the full payment for the Bill of Cost Available .

Yours in service ,
Barr. Festus Keyamo LL.B Hons

This response from Cole makes me think they bought it hook,line, and sinker...

Quote:

My Dear Friend ,
I currently share your pain and plight over the sudden twist of events but i am sure Victory is surely at the end . I must be outspoken at this point,after we entrusted ourselves in procuring victory, i have this feeling that the Officials At MoneyGram must be held responsible for this .Why did it take them that long to discover that the funds was sent to republic Of Benin ?Why did the MoneyGram at Benin tell the Lawyers representative that there was a problem with the number ?

I am a man of visions and much aspirations .i am optimistic that these people can not deter us from achieving our common goal .I Will not cease to commend your efforts so far ! I wished the LAWYER had gotten the money immediately you paid it ,i am sure we would have concluded the transfer even before the New Year .With the Limited time we have now you will have to concentrate on making another Payment after which we might consider a possible law suit Against MoneyGram (But you must have to keep this a secret from the MoneyGram Officials) I Hope you will be able to make this new payment before the end of today as i am really anxious to see everything goes smoothly .
Sincerely ,Cole

COLE NSAN.
PRIVATE BANKING ,
Investment Banking and Trust company (IBTC),

It's now 15 Jan and Heather has to tell them the news that Edwina is back in the hospital....

This is about 1/2 of the bait and I will probably be able to finish up the transcript over next weekend. Stay tuned as we try a second safari to Abuja this time, get them to fill out a form and then fill it out again, ask Cole for a picture (but his "scammer" was broke), and try to make them meet Heather at Lagos airport for a photo op.