40 Bicycles

Every once in a while I get an e-mail like the one below (posted as I received it). I really wonder what sort of person would respond to something like this:—

Dear Friend I am a Branch Manager with STANDARD TRUST BANK(STB), My name is Mr.JOHN PETERS,a Banker. I am the personal Account Manager to the ENGINEER Ken Connie, a National of your country, who used to work with shell Development company in Nigeria. Here in after shall be referred to as my client On April 21, 2000 my client,his wife, and their three children were involved in a car accident along Sagamu express way. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost theirlives.Since then I have made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended Relatives,this has also proved unsuccessful.After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they Get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits were lodged, particularly the STANDARD TRUST BANK PLC. Where the deceased had an account Valued at about ($10 million u s dollars) has Issued me a notice to provide the next of kin. Or have the account confiscated within the next ten official working days. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased so that this account valued at ($10million u s dollars) can be paid to you and then you and me Can share the money.70% to me and 30% to you An attorney will be contracted to help. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you. from any breach of the law. Please get in touch with me by my email or better still call me for more detail on how i intend to carry out this transaction with you. Do include your private phone and fax numbers in your response to my mail, hoping to hear from you soonest.Please repy to my private and confidential email address (jpstd2000@yahoo.com) Best regards Mr JOHN PETERS

I must admit, I have never been able to figure out why all of these letters come from people claiming to be associated with Nigeria in some way. I would have thought that this con would have been sufficiently well-known for alarm bells to start ringing as soon as you see the word 'Nigeria'.