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The                 Scam Artist vs.The Idiot
 
 An                 actual email conversation that took place over the course of two                 weeks.
                 The cast is comprised of: 
 
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 Aaron Obasanjo
 
 
 played by an unknown scam artist
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 The   idiot
 
 
 played by Michael Solomon
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| 
  AARON OBASANJO
 EMAIL:a_obasanjo@onebox.com
 LAGOS – NIGERIA
 
Dear   Sir,
 RE: PRIVATE BUSINESS PROPOSAL
 
Due   to the nature of this transaction, being utterly confidential   and of utmost secrecy, I must start by soliciting your strict   confidence.
   You have been recommended by an associate who assured me   in confidence of your ability and reliability to prosecute   a transaction of great magnitude involving a pending business   transaction requiring maximum confidence.   
 Let   me start by introducing myself. I am AARON OBASANJO, executive   director of the Federal Ministry of Power and Steel, executive   secretary of the newly constituted contract review panel   and the chairman of OIL and GAS Nigeria Ltd. I have a proposal   to offer to you, which would be of mutual benefit to all   parties involved. It involves investing about US$26,400,000:00   (TWENTY SIX MILLION FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES   DOLLARS) in your country. Please contact me by email, if   you might be interested in the proposal so that we can discuss   further.
   
 Expecting   your favourable response.
 
 
 With kind regards,
 
 
 
 N.B;PLEASE   WHEN YOU ANSWER QUOTE REFERENCE NO;AO/O1
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  Aaron,
                      
 Yes. I would love to help you out. Please send me more information and I’d be happy to do anything nescessary to get this money. Thanks for choosing me!
                      
 Michael Solomon
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  ATTENTION: MIKE SOLOMON.
                      
 Thank you very much for your most timely email response acknowledging reciept of my proposal. After due consultations with my client, we have decided to go ahead with you. This will spell the beginning of a truly rewarding and cherished relationship between us that will bridge our religious and geographical divides. I shall briefly enunciate the process that will be adopted by us to achieve our mutual objective in this project. The undue delay was a result of the fact that, my client had to consult a spiritualist who assured us of your reliability hence our present enthusiasm towards your person. Discussions with other members of her family ad to be held. I would need to use this opportunity to bring you into the full picture of this pending transaction. As regards the information to this transaction, I am obliged to inform you that I am not in this alone but working on my clients brief who is the originator of this transaction. I have taken time to discuss your response to my client hence my delay in responding to your email. They have given me the go-ahead to intimate you of their pressing need, to go into a business relationship with you. Since we would work together,I wish to introduce myself to you a bit more. I am Dr Aaron Obasanjo a private attorney to the family of late former head of state of the Federal Republic of Nigeria General Sani Abacha. I have been directed by his only surviving widow to seek urgently an associate in your country that will assist the family in receiving a consignment of funds that is currently in the custody of a security/courier company in a West African country. These funds amounting to about US$26.4M was to be used for establishing some businesses . Immediately the late head of state died, things fell apart and there was a terrible probe into the familys activities. This has made it impossible for any member of the family to as much as lift a finger to move out funds. Then the present Government of President Olusegun Obasanjo started carrying out a personal vendetta on my clients family, claiming that they looted funds from the Nigerian treasury. I want to point out that these allegations are not only false but also baseless as the late head of state imprisoned the incumbent president of my country in 1995 for plotting a coup, hence the present situation of bad blood.
                      
 It is all a personal vendetta against the family of the Abachas. Presently, General Abachas eldest son Alhaji Mohammed Abacha has been held illegally in detention for the past one year on trumped up murder charges. All their bank accounts have been frozen and most of their known assets expropriated by this current very vindictive government their close relatives and friends are not left out as they are constantly been monitored by our vicious security agencies.
                      
 Consequently, we are soliciting your assistance in the collection of the funds which are currently in Nigeria, for onward shipment to Europe, the United states or Canada for safe keeping in your account or investments in fixed interest government securities until the Abacha Family is able to travel out of Nigeria for collection as there is currently a travel ban on them including my humble self. They have proposed that on collection, you will keep 5% of the funds for your kind assistance while 5% will be set aside for expenses that will be incurred during the course of this transaction These expenses include, telephone bills, fax running bills and power bills. Although, for the sake of clarity, you have to let us be aware of such expenses before offsetting. This is for our mutual trust as partners and to allow for good book keeping. If you decide to go into this arrangement, I will proceed to instruct the security/ courier company that you are the sole beneficiary of the consignment and will consequently authorise the company to ship the funds to your designated location for pick up. This is the sole reason why I contacted you in the first place and we are all soliciting your help, assistance and co-operation as regards this business. Arrangements have been made with the security company where the funds are presently kept to arrange with either their representatives in Europe, US or Canada, since they have representatives there, to receive these funds in cash depending on where it is most convenient for you to pick up the cash. If you now decide to go into this arrangement with us, it will be greatly appreciated if you will kindly indicate where will be most convenient for you to pick up the funds and also send to me the following information; your company name, address and your private telephone and fax numbers (home or office) for easy reach and contact. Once we can get this information, we would be able to commence this transaction in earnest as all we have to do is to initiate the movements of the funds from here to you for pick up. All modalities would be taken care of down here. You do not need to spend any money at all. We have taken care of all the loose ends and indulge me when I say that it is totally risk free.
                      
 Please as soon as you get this message and you are willing to assist in this transaction, do send to me the information requested so that we can begin with this process. Also if you decide to assist us, I would expect your call later today for us to be able to decide the way forward for this transaction. My confidential telephone line again is 234-1-7593414. You can reach me anytime of the day, but the best times to call me are between 18:00  23:00 hours GMT. You can also send the necessary information via E-mail.
                      
 Finally, I want to assure you that this transaction is hundred percent risk free and all that is required is mutual trust, honesty and a non-religious adherence to my instructions. The need for confidentiality and secrecy during the course of this transaction, cannot be overemphasised as any breach could impact negatively on the successful outcome of this transaction.
                      
 Let me at this juncture mention an african adage that says that, « money that can not be enjoyed does not make one rich » We wish to enjoy this money after transfer hence, when we say it is 100% risk free, we know what we are saying.
                      
 Hoping to hear from you soonest.
                      
 Best regards,
                      
 AARON OBASAJO.
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  Aaron,
                      
 Honestly, I feel truly honorfull to help you and your clients. Just let me know what I need to do.
                      
 ~Michael Solomon
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  DEAR MIKE
                     TOP OF THE DAY TO YOU OVER THERE.THANK YOU FOR THE MAIL AND FOR YOURINTEREST IN THIS TRANSACTION WHICH I BELIEVE IS THE BEGINING OF A GREAT
 RELATIONSHIP.I SHALL INTIMATE YOU ON WHAT YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO DO AFTER
 I
 MUST HAVE DISCUSSED WITH MY CLIENT YOUR RESPONSE,SO THAT THE
 TRANSACTION
 CAN BE COMPLETED IN EARNEST
 AT THIS JUNCTION I WOULD LIKE TO REASSURE YOU THAT A SINGLE PENNY
 WOULD NOT BE REQUIRED FROM YOU AS ALL LEGAL REQUIREMENT WOULD BE TAKEN
 CARE OF BY MY CHAMBERS.AGAIN THANKS FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH
 US
 
WE REMAIN OBLIGED
 AARON OBASANJO
 
 N B:IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT A TRANSACTION OF THIS MAGNITUDE   IS
 NOT CONFIDENTIAL ENOUGH BY EMAIL IT IS THEREFORE IMPERATIVE   THAT YOU
 FORWARD TO THE CHAMBERS YOUR CONFIDENTIAL TELEPHONE AND   FAX NUMBERS
 MINE
 ARE ,TEL234 1 7593414 FAX234 1 7593896.
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  Aaron,
 
Sorry   to be writing you this late, but I can’t sleep
 because I can’t stop thinking about this exciting
 transaction!
 
I   understand that email is not a safe way for us to
 communicate about a financial disclosure of this
 magnitude, so i will fax you the information when I
 get around to purchasing a fax machiene from a radio
 shack that’s nearby where I live.
 
Thank   you again for choosing me to assist your
 monitary needs,
 
Michael   Solomon
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  DEAR MIKE
                     TOP OF THE DAY TO YOU.PLEASE TRY NOT TO BE OVERCOME BY ANXIETY SOTHAT THIS TRANSACTION CAN BE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED.THE INFORMATION I
 REQUESTED FOR ARE VERY VITAL FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE TRANSACTION.
 PLEASE THE FAX MACHINE SHOULD BE BOUGHT IN EARNEST FOR THERE IS NO
 TIME
 ON OUR SIDE INFACT WE ARE WORKING AGAINST TIME.PLEASE KINDLY SEND YOUR
 COMPANY NAME ,YOUR CONFIDENTIAL TEL AND FAX NUMBERS AND ANY FORM OF
 IDENTIFICATION,THIS
 COULD BE YOUR DRIVERS LICENSE SO WE COULD KNOW WHO WE ARE DEALING
 WITH.PLEASE
 BE FAST ABOUT THIS FOR THE IMMEDIATE BEGINING OF THIS PROJECT
 
AWAITING YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE
 
WE REMAIN OBLIGED
 
AARON OBASANJO
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  Aaron,
 
I   understand the importance of time in our situation,
 and I am doing everything possible to expediate the
 information to you and your chambers so we can proceed
 in earnest.
 
I   just returned from the fax macheine store, where
 Rick, the salesman helped me purchase a VERY nice fax
 macheine. I told him that I needed a fax macheine and
 i needed it fast because I have some VERY important
 business to take care of. But he was on the phone and
 kept me waiting for 5 minutes!! So I waited.
 
After   that, he showed me the Lexmark P250, which I
 liked but it was too cheap( it only cost $129). For
 an operation of this type of business venture we are
 involved in, I didn’t want to risk the security and
 quality of our correspondance with a cheap fax
 macheine that might break. So I asked Rick to show me
 the best fax macheine, and he showed me the Cannon
 XP-3000, and I bought it! It cost me $1,249, but i
 know that it is worth it because a correspondance
 between you and i of this nature deserves the utmost
 quality and importance. I’ve had so much money in my
 account since my father passed away, i never thought
 i’d be able to spend any of it, but now, i can finally
 have peace knowing that my father’s inheritance is
 finally being put to good use.
 
When   i figure out how to use the Cannon XP-3000, i
 shall fax you all the aforementioned information, but
 as of now, I’m only on the second chapter in the
 instruction manuel. i’m reading as fast as I can.
 
sincerely,
 Michael Solomon
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  DEAR FRIEND AND PARTNER,
 
TOP   OF THE DAY TO YOU. I MUST CONFESS THAT WE ARE IMPRESSES   WITH YOUR
 LEVEL OF COMMITMENT AND UNDERSTANDING SO FAR CONCERNING   THIS PROJECT,
 WE ARE NOW MORE THAN EVER CONVINCED THAT WE HAVE MADE THE   RIGHT CHOICE
 IN DOING THIS BUSINESS WITH YOU, WE DO APPRECIATE YOUR SPENDING   SO MUCH
 TO PURCHASE A STANDARD FAX MACHINE WITH GREAT CAPACITY TO   PERFORM AND
 WE ASSURE YOU THAT AT THE END OF THIS PROJECT, YOU WOULD   NOT REGRET
 YOUR
 ACTION AND WE WOULD WANT TO APPEAL TO YOU TO KEEP IT UP   BECAUSE IF WE
 CONTINUE AT THIS RATE, WE WOULD FINISH THIS PROJECT IN ESTIMATED   TIME.
 
I   WOULD LIKE ALSO TO APPEAL TO YOU TO BE CALM, PLEASE ENSURE   THAT YOU
 KEEP THIS DEAL CONFIDENTIAL AND CLOSE TO YOUR HEART AS WE   WOULD NOT
 WANT
 UNSCRUPULOUS PEOPLE TO HIJACK IT FROM US. IN THIS REGARD,   I WOULD
 REQUEST
 THAT YOU CALL ME IMMEDIATELY YOU RECIEVE THIS MESSAGE SO   THAT WE COULD
 DISCUSS AND GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER MORE, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT   FOR US
 TO ESTABLISH THE MUCH NEEDED TRUST AND UNDERSTANDING.
 
NOTE.   THAT WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED THE PROCESS OF LEGALISING THIS   DEAL,
 BUT WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT COMPANY TO USE, YOU COULD GIVE US   YOUR COMPANY
 NAME OR WE COULD REGISTER A COMPANY OF YOURS HERE WITH YOU   AS THE
 BENEFICIARY
 OF THE FUNDS, THIS IS PART OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO TALK   ABOUT WHEN YOU
 CALL. IF CALLING IS NOT CONDUSIVE FOR YOU NOW, JUST STATE   EXACTLY WHAT
 TIME YOU WOULD CALL AS MY CHAMBERS IS NOT CLOSING FOR THE   NEXT THREE
 HOURS.
 
THE   PHONE NUMBER TO CALL IS 234 1 759 3414
 
PLEASE   REACH ME IMMEDIATELY TO LET ME KNOW YOUR DECISION.
 
THANKS   AND BEST REGARDS,
 
AARON   OBASANJO
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  Aaron,
 
I’m   still very excited to move this project forward, however   I cannot give you a company name to use
 because I am currently unemployed. I was fired a
 few years ago after my drunk driving accident which
 subsequently sent my father to the hospital where his
 life ended. I’m also afraid I cannot send you a driver’s   liscense because I had my driver’s liscense
 taken away after the accient.
 Aaron, I tell you this for two reasons.
 
1:   so that we can be totally honest with each other. You have   been honest with me in entrusting me with the private matters   regarding your client, and I feel that a way to repay you   and your honesty is for me to be totally honest myself.   I have never told anyone but my close remaining family about   my accident. It is something that i am not proud of.
 
2:   I am telling you
 this because I can closely relate your client’s situation   with overzealous prosecution from the
 government. i too, was unjustly prosecuted, so i
 understand the feelings of you and your client.
 After telling you the truth I hope that you do not
 doubt my abilities to carry out this project. I have
 confidance in your spirtualist that I am the right man
 for the job.
 I tried to call your phone number, but it looks like
 an international number, and I don’t know how to dial
 it. Please clarify this for me.
 Do not forget that I am more excited now than I have ever   been to work with you and your associates.
 
Michael   Solomon
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  DEAR FRIEND AND PARTNER,
 
THANK   YOU FOR YOUR TIMELY RESPONSE, WE DO APPRECIATE YOUR HIGH   SENSE
 OF COMMITMENT, WE DO ALSO APPRECIATE YOUR OBLIGING US WITH   SOME PRIVATE
 SECRET INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR FAMILY BASED ON TRUST, WE   BELIEVE THAT
 FOR THIS TRANSACTION TO SUCCEED, WE NEED TO DEVELOP A GREAT   LEVEL OF
 TRUST AND UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN US TO EFFECTIVELY PROSECUTE   THIS
 PROJECT.
 PLEASE ACCEPT OUR SINCERE SYMPATHY.
 
NOW   MY FRIEND, AS ORIGINATORS OF THIS PROJECT, WE WOULD LIKE   TO ASSUME
 THAT WE ARE IN A BETTER POSITION TO GIVE ADVISES CONCERNING   THIS DEAL,
 THAT IS WHY WE WOULD LIKE TO APPEAL TO YOU TO CO-OPERATE   AND FOLLOW OUR
 INSTRUCTIONS TO THE LETTER, THIS IS IMPORTANT AS WE DO NOT   WANT TO MAKE
 ANY MISTAKES THAT WOULD JEOPARDISE OUR CHANCES, WE DO NOT   DOUBT YOUR
 ABILITIES TO PROSECUTE THIS PROJECT AT ALL AS WE HAVE OUR   CONVICTIONS
 ALREADY, PLEASE JUST TRY TO CALM YOUR ANXIETY AND TRY TO   DO AS WE
 INSTRUCT
 OR DIRECT FOR THE GOOD OF ALL PARTIES.
 
BY   YOUR LAST MAIL, WE WOULD NEED TO REGISTER A COMPANY WITH   YOU AS THE
 PRESIDENT/C.E.O , THIS MEANS YOU ARE THE BENEFICIARY OF   THE FUNDS , THE
 SECURITY COMPANY THAT WILL MOVE THE FUNDS DOES NOT DEAL   WITH
 INDIVIDUALS
 BUT CORPORATE COMPANIES THAT IS WHY WE NEED A COMPANY TO   REPRESENT YOU.
 IN THIS REGARD, WE HAVE CHOSEN TO REGISTER
 "SOLOMON’S ENTERPRISES NIGERIA LTD." AS A LIMITED   LIABILITY COMPANY
 NAME
 HERE IN NIGERIA. BY MONDAY 19/03/2001, WE SHALL BE PAYING   ALL NECESSARY
 REGISTRATION/INCORPORATION FEES AND CHARGES AND AS SOON   AS THE
 CERTIFICATE
 IS OUT WE SHALL BE SENDING IT TO YOU BY FAX. YOU CAN THUS   UNDERSTAND
 WHY IT IS ABSOLUTELY VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE YOUR PHONE   AND FAX
 NUMBER
 SO THAT WE CAN SEND YOU NECESSARY INFO. AND DOCUMENTS FROM   TIME TO TIME
 FOR YOUR PERUSAL AND RECORDS.
 
DEAR   MIKE, AS PER CALLING ME , LISTEN CAREFULLY AND FOLLOW MY   ADVISE.
 
1.   I GUESS YOU DO NOT HAVE INTERNATIONAL ACCESS FACILITY ON   YOUR
 PHONE,IF
 YOU DONT, THEN TRY TO GET ONE.
 
2.   IF YOU DO HAVE INTERNATIONAL ACCESS FACILITY ON YOUR PHONE,   WHAT YOU
 NEED TO DO, IS TO CALL YOUR INTERNATIONAL PHONE OPERATOR   AND SAY THAT
 YOU WANT TO CALL YOUR FRIEND ABROAD(OUTSIDE YOUR COUNTRY),   THAT YOU
 NEED
 THE INTERNATIONAL DIALING CODE. THERE IS A CODE APPLICABLE   IN YOUR
 COUNTRY
 THAT YOU HAVE TO DIAL BEFORE 234 1 759 3414 . PLEASE AND   PLEASE MAKE
 SURE THAT YOU DO NOT DISCLOSE THIS DEAL WITH ANYBODY WHATSOEVER   EVEN
 THE OPERATOR, IF YOU ARE ASKED WHY YOU ARE CALLING NIGERIA,   JUST SAY
 YOU ARE TRYING TO REACH YOUR FAMILY.
 
I   AM IN THE OFFICE TODAY TO EXPECT YOUR CALL, IF YOU CANNOT   GET TO
 SPEAK
 WITH ME, JUST SEND ME A FAX(DO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW TO USE   THE MACHINE
 NOW?). NOTE THAT IF YOUR CALL GOES THROUGH,ALWAYS ASK HOW   IS THE
 WEATHER?
 AND THE RESPONSE SHOULD BE..VERY POSITIVE. THIS IS IMPORTANT   SO THAT
 WE CAN BE SURE YOU ARE SPEAKING WITH THE RIGHT PERSON DOWN   HERE AND
 VICE
 VERSA. THE NUMBER TO CALL ONCE AGAIN IS PHONE: 234 1 759   3414 . FAX
 : 234 1 759 3896.
 
DO   YOU HAVE ANY FORM OF IDENTIFICATION, IF YOU DO, WE WOULD   APPRECIATE
 IF YOU OBLIGE US AS WE NEED TO KNOW WHO WE ARE REALLY DEALING   WITH AS
 WE WOULD NOT WANT ANYBODY TO IMPERSONATE YOU. I HOPE YOU   DO UNDERSTAND
 PERFECTLY.
 
PLEASE   RESPOND PROMPTLY TO THIS MESSAGE AND INCLUDE YOUR PHONE   AND FAX
 LINE IN YOUR RESPONSE. TIME AND CONFIDENTIALITY IS OF THE   ESSENCE.
 
WITH   KIND REGARDS,
 AARON OBASANJO.
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  Aaron,
 
Wow!   I’m very excited that as of Monday, I will have my own business   in your country! Let’s get down to business.
 
I   did some investigating about my phone service, and I was   told that I don’t have international access. So, I called   my phone company and I arranged for a customer service/installation   representitave to come to my house and install a new phone   line (that has access to calling Nigeria) and he will also   instruct me on how to use it. I’ve already spoken to him   by phone, and he seems like a really friendly guy; his name   is Rodney.
 
I   can’t wait until Rodney gets my new phone service working   so I can finally call up my new business associates in Nigeria,   and finally bring this operation forward.
 
Michael   Solomon
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  DEAR   FRIEND AND PARTNER,
 
I   AM DELIGHTED TO HEAR THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY MADE THE MOVE   TO GET A
 PHONE
 WITH INTERNATIONAL DIALING FACILITY, WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD   TOO TO
 HEAING
 FROM YOU AS WE BELIEVE THAT SPEAKING TO YOU WOULD ACTUALLY   USHER IN THE
 PROJECT PROPER.HOWEVER, WE ARE STILL WONDERING WHY YOU HAVE   NOT SENT
 YOUR PHONE AND FAX NUMBER TO US. WE NEED TO INCLUDE THESE   NUMBERS IN
 SOME APPLICATIONS WE MAKE ON BEHALF OF THIS DEAL, I ADVISED   EARLIER ON
 IN MY LAST MESSAGE THAT YOU TRY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO FOLLOW   MY
 INSTRUCTIONS
 AND DO ACCORDINGLY BUT YOU SEEM TO BE TOO EXCITED THAT YOU   ENTIRELY
 IGNORE
 SOME PARTS OF MY MESSAGES. PLEASE I AM NOT TRYING TO CONTROL   OR PUSH
 YOU AROUND BUT YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT FOR US TO SUCCEED   IN THIS
 TRANSACTION,
 WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL AND FOLLOW SOME GUIDELINES. PLEASE   TRY TO
 UNDERSTAND.
 
REMEMBER   TO ALWAYS KEEP THIS DEAL TO YOUR HEART, WHEN THE DEAL IS
 FINALLY
 CONCLUDED AND WE ARE SAFE YOU COULD FEEL FREE TO TELL ANYBODY   HOW YOU
 GOT YOUR RICHES BUT FOR NOW WE NEED TO CARRY IT OUT TO IT’S   LOGICAL
 CONCLUSION.
 
EXPECTING   YOUR RESPONSE.
 
BEST   REGARDS,
 AARON OBASANJO
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  Aaron,
 
Bad   news. We’ll have to put the project on hold for a few days.   I can’t beleive this just happened. I had a glass of water   resting on a shelf above my new fax macheine (The Cannon   XP-3000) and my x-girlfriend’s dumb cat (which i’m babysitting   for while she’s in Canada this weekend) knocked over the   glass RIGHT ONTO THE FAX MACHEINE! The water shocked the   cat so bad, I had to take him to the animal hospital, and   the water shorted out my fax macheine and blew a circut   and now my house has no power! I’m writing you this email   from my pal Lance’s house, but don’t worry, he’s in the   other room and can’t see what I’m typing. I have to go to   the hospital in a few minutes to check on the cat, and if   this damn cat dies, i’ll have to find a new one by monday,   when Denise gets back from canada. I had to leave a note   on my door for Rodney, because when he gets to my house,   i’ll already be at the hospotal. I’ll get back to you when   i have time to check my email again.
 
I   remain obliged,
 Michael Solomon
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| 
  DEAR FRIEND AND PARTNER,
 
TOP   OF THE DAY TO YOU. HOW IS THE CAT DOING, HOPE SHE IS FINE?   WE DO
 NOT WANT DENISE TO BE UPSET BY THE TIME SHE RETURNS FROM   CANADA, SO
 PLEASE
 SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO. THIS IS IMPORTANT AS WE WOULD NOT WANT   YOU TO FACE
 ANY KIND OF EMOTIONAL STRESS WHEN THIS DEAL FULLY COMMENCES   SO THAT YOU
 COULD HAVE FULL CONCENTRATION FOR THE DEAL. JUST BE CAREFULL   NEXT TIME
 AND PROTECT YOUR EQUIPMENT(S) ADEQUATELY. IT COST SO MUCH,   REMEMBER?
 
 PLEASE ENDEAVOUR TO HEED MY REQUEST AND SEND YOUR PHONE   AND FAX NUMBER
 TO ME, MAYBE I COULD CALL YOU FIRST, THIS IS RISKY AS I   HAVE TO GO
 THROUGH
 THE OPERATOR IN THE COMPLEX WHERE I WORK, BUT I THINK I   CAN MANAGE JUST
 ONE CALL. PLEASE COMPLY.
 
REMEMBER   ANYTIME YOU CALL ME ALWAYS ASK: HOW IS THE WEATHER? AND   THE
 ANSWER SHOULD BE "VERY POSITIVE".
 
EXPECTING   TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON.
 
WITH   KIND REGARDS,
 AARON OBASANJO
 |  
| 
  Aaron,
 
As   it turns out, the cat died. No pet store in the area had   another cat like it, so i’ll just have to wait untill tomorrow   to see how mad Denise will be. But when I was in the hospital,   I was talking to my friend Jeremy and he mentioned that   he too had recently bought a new fax macheine. I asked him   why he bought it, and he said he couldn’t tell me because   it was confidential. When I asked him a second time, he   winked at me, and then nodded. Then he changed the subject.   Aaron, this brings doubts that I am the only one selected   for this operation. Who was the associate that told you   to contact me in the first place? I suspect it was Jeremy,   and I don’t appreciate you undercutting my importance in   this mission. Even if it wasn’t Jeremy, I do not think I   can proceed untill I know who told you to contact me about   this deal. It could be anyone, and I can’t continue to not   trust each of my associates, especially Jeremy. And if the   spiritualist can verify my dedication to the job, then why   can’t she guess my phone number and address?
 
Having   doubts,
 Michael
 |  
| 
  DEAR FRIEND,
 
TOP   OF THE DAY TO YOU. I MUST NOT FAIL TO SAY HOW SORRY WE ARE   AND
 SYMPATIZE
 WITH YOU ON THE DEATH OF YOUR CAT, WE ARE INDEED VERY SORRY   AND WE HOPE
 YOU ARE ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO DENISE AND CALM HER AND CONSOLE   HER.
 
DEAR   MIKE, I MUST CONFESS TO YOU THAT I WAS SO UPSET BY YOUR   RECENT
 INSINUATIONS
 AND ACCUSATIONS THAT I SAID NOT TO RESPOND TO YOU AGAIN   BUT AFTER
 CAREFUL
 DELIBERATIONS WITH MY PARTNERS AND OUR CLIENT, WE FEEL IT   IS OUR DUTY
 TO EXPLAIN TO YOU FOR MORE CLARIFICATIONS. FIRST OF ALL   YOU MUST
 UNDERSTAND
 THAT WE ARE DOING A PROFESSIONAL WORK HERE AND WE STAND   TO BE PAID OUR
 PROFESSIONAL FEES AND WE WOULD NOT LEAVE OUR DUTIES TO COME   AND ENGAGE
 IN SOME KIND OF CHILD’S PLAY AS YOU WANT TO MAKE THIS LOOK   LIKE.
 
FOR   THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, LET ME SAY HERE THAT NEITHER I AND   ANY
 OTHER
 PARTNER IN THIS HONOURABLE CHAMBERS NOR MY CLIENT HAS HAD,   IS HAVING
 ANYTHING TO DO WITH YOUR JEREMY OR WHATEVER YOU CALL HIS   NAME. WE HAVE
 DEALT WITH YOU AND YOU ALONE ALL THIS WHILE AND WE DO NOT   HAVE ANY
 CONTRARY
 INTENSIONS EXCEPT YOU TELL US THAT YOU DO NOT WANT TO CONTINUE   WITH THE
 DEAL, THEN AND ONLY THEN CAN WE LOOK FOR ANOTHER.
 
HOW   CAN YOU SEE A MERE COINCIDENCE OF BUYING A FAX MACHINE AS   A REASON
 TO BRING THIS CAREFULLY THOUGHT OUT SCHEME SO LOW, YOUR   FRIEND MIGHT
 HAVE BOUGHT THE MACHINE FOR GOD KNOWS WHAT, WE ARE NOT UNDERCUTTING
 YOUR
 IMPORTANCE AS YOU CLAIM BUT WE EVEN BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE   EVEN SORT OF
 BLACKMAILING US BECAUSE WE BELIEVE AS OUR SPIRITUALIST SAY   THAT YOU ARE
 THE ONE FOR US TO TRUST AND DO THIS WITH, BUT THAT IS CHEAP   BLACKMAIL.
 
FOR   CLARITY PURPOSES, MY CLIENT GOT YOUR CONTACT FROM ONE OF   HIS
 FRIENDS
 WHO HAPPENS TO WORK WITH ONE OF OUR FOREIGN MISSIONS(SPECIFICALLY   THE
 CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY)THAT IS THE BEST WE CAN   DISCLOSE AS
 WE DO NOT INTEND FOR ANY REASON(S) TO DISCLOSE CONFIDENTIAL   INFORMATION
 AS THIS IS AGAINST PROFESSIONAL ETHICS BUT WE DO KNOW AND   WE ARE VERY
 CERTAIN THAT IT WAS NOT FROM YOUR SO CALLED JEREMY OR ANY   OTHER PERSON
 CLOSE TO YOU.
 
FOR   THE AVOIDANCE OF ANY DOUBTS, PLEASE TRY HARDER TO GET MORE
 INFORMATION
 FROM YOUR FRIEND ABOUT HIS REASON FOR GETTING A FAX MACHINE   AND YOU
 WOULD
 SEE THAT IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ME,MY FELLOW PARTNERS   AND MY CLIENT.
 YOUR FRIEND MIGHT EVEN BE INVOLVED WITH SOMEBODY ELSE IN   THIS SIMILAR
 SITUATION WHO NEEDS ASSISTANCE BUT CERTAINLY NOT US. WHATEVER   YOU DO
 , PLEASE MAKE SURE NOT TO DISCLOSE MY CLIENT’S IDENTITY   AS A
 SEARCHLIGHT
 IS STILL ON HIS FAMILY.
 
AFTER   ALL SAID AND DONE, WE HERE DO HAVE A SECOND THOUGHT ABOUT   YOUR
 ABILITY TO PRESERVE THE CONFIDENTIAL NATURE OF THIS TRANSACTION   AS YOU
 ALLOW EXCITEMENT TO TAKE CONTROL OF YOU. IF YOU ARE STILL   INTERESTED
 IN THIS TRANSACTION THEN YOU HAVE TO CHANGE. WE HAVE TAKEN   TIME TO
 EXPLAIN
 THE SITUATION TO YOU AS IT IS, IF YOU BELIEVE FINE, OTHERWISE   THERE IS
 NOTHING MUCH WE COULD DO IN THE CIRCUMSTANCE.
 
IS   THIS WHY YOU HAVE NOT SENT YOUR PHONE NUMBER FOR US TO COMMUNICATE?
 OR YOU ARE JUST RAISING EXCUSES HERE AND THERE. IF YOU WANT   TO DO THIS
 WITH US LET US BEGIN OTHERWISE LET’S STOP WASTING EACH OTHER’S   TIME.
 THE CHOICE IS YOURS.
 
EXPECT   TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON.
 
BEST   REGARDS,
 AARON
 |  
| 
  Aaron,
 
I’m   sorry for being hostile in my last email. Understandably   so, I was upset becase of the cat. Thank you for your kind   wishes for me and Denise, although now she’s refusing to   talk with me because of what happened with the cat. This   business deal that you and I have is all I’ve got going   for me right now. Thanks again, I really appreciate your   choosing me.
 
Since   the mentalist said I’m the chosen one, I’ve been feeling   much more powerful lately. Last night I sat at my table   for 3 hours and tried to move things with my mind, and although   the feather did move a tiny bit, I think it was from the   ceiling fan.
 
I   talked with Jeremy, and you were right. He bought the fax   macheine for his new job at the post office, not because   you told him to. I’m feeling much more confidant in this   deal, and I’m sorry it took me so long to finally trust   you, Aaron.
 
I’m   also excited because I got an email from a company in California   that chose me (out of hundreds of others!) to test sneakers   for them. All I have to do is give them my credit card number   to pay for shipping, and they said they’d ship me 15 pairs   of shoes to test, absolutely free, and I get to keep the   shoes! This is great, because I’ve always felt that I’m   good at knowing a good pair of shoes when I see one. But   don’t worry, I don’t tell these people about our special   deal. I haven’t told anyone, and that’s how I plan to keep   it.
 
I   remain obliged,
 Michael
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| 
  DEAR MIKE,
 
NOW   THAT YOU SEEM TO HAVE COME TO TERMS WITH YOURSELF, WHAT   IS THE WAY
 FORWARD? YOU HAVE NOT TOLD ME ANYTHING POSITIVE FOR A WHILE   NOW. AFTER
 YOU BOUGHT YOUR FAX MACHINE, YOU SAID YOU NEEDED JUST A   LITTLE WHILE
 TO STUDY THE MANUAL AND THEN AFTERWARDS YOU WILL CALL, HAVE   YOU NOT
 FINISHED
 STUDYING, OR HOW DO YOU THINK WE COULD GO ON WITH THIS DEAL   WITHOUT
 COMMUNICATING
 PROPERLY. THIS E-MAIL KIND OF COMMUNICATION LIKE I TOLD   YOU BEFORE IS
 NOT TOTALLY SAFE, OR DONT YOU HAVE A PHONE AND FAX LINE,   IF WE HAVE TO
 CONTINUE THIS PROJECT LET US HAVE YOUR PHONE AND FAX LINE.
 
I   HAVE WORD FROM OUR CONTACT THAT THE REGISTRATION OF YOUR   COMPANY
 "SOLOMON’S
 ENTERPRISES (NIG.) LTD. IS IN IT’S FINAL STAGE AND THE DOCUMENTATIONS
 WILL BE OUT, HOW ON EARTH DO WE SEND THESE DOCUMENTS TO   YOU?
 
LET’S   GET DOWN TO BUSINESS. WE EXPECT YOU TO SEND THESE INFORMATION
 WHEN
 NEXT YOU RESPOND, RIGHT?
 
WE   REMAIN OBLIGED,
 AARON
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| 
  Aaron,
 
I   think this is the end of our business deal. Do you
 remember that company in California that said they
 would ship me 15 pairs of shoes in exchange for my
 credit card number? Well, it turns out it was a
 SCAM!!! Yesterday I needed to pay for the cremation
 of the cat with my credit card and it was denied. I
 thought, whoah! hold on a second! I thought it was a
 mistake because I had over $375,000 in that account
 (from when my dad died). I called Visa, and they said
 that somebody in california was pretending to be me
 and bought 3 new cars and thousands of dollars worth
 of sterio equiptment!!!!
 So, I immediately contacted the police (I’ve been in
 the police station for the past 7 hours) and they’re
 starting a full investigation into this whole mess.
 aparantly, when somebody steals over $100,000 dollars,
 it becomes a federal crime, so tomorrow somebody from
 the FBI is coming to talk with me. the only thing I
 have from the scam artist is an email address, but the
 police said that they can almost always track a person
 from an email address.
 But for now, i don’t have the time to own a company in
 nigeria, i hope you understand Mr Obasanjo. thanks
 for all you’ve done for me; i really appreciate it.
 
~Michael
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