This is INTERNET FRAUD No.2

Take a look at this one.

Dear Friend,

URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL

It is my great pleasure in writing you this letter on behalf of my colleagues. Your particulars were given to me by a member of the South Africa Export Promotion Council (S.E.P.C) [NOTE 1] who was with the federal government delegation to your country during a trade exhibition. I have decided to seek a confidential co-operation with you in the execution of the deal described hereunder for the benefit of all parties and hope you will keep it as top secret [NOTE 2] because of the nature of this business.

I am ENGR. PAUL MABUZA [NOTE 3]. Director Of Project Implementation, South Africa Department of Minerals & Energy I am making this contact with you, based on the committee's need for an individual/company who is willing to assist us in the execution of this business. Within the Department of Minerals & Energy, where I work as a Director of the Project Implementation and with the good co-operation of four other top officials, we have in our possession as over due payment bills, totaling Twenty One Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$21,500,000) [NOTE 4]. Which we want to transfer abroad with the assistance and co-operation of A Foreign Company/individual to receive the said funds on our behalf. More so, we are handicap in these circumstances, as the South African Civil Services code of conduct does not allow us to operate an offshore account. Hence your importance in this transaction.

This amount $21.5Million represents the balance of the total contract value executed on behalf of my ministry by a Foreign Contracting Firm, which we the Officials over invoiced deliberately. Though the actual contract cost has been paid to the original contractor, leaving the balance in the tune of the said amount, which we have in principles gotten approval to remit by Key Tested Telegraphic Transfer (K.T.T). to any Foreign Bank Account you will provide by filing an Application through the Ministry Of Justice here in South Africa, for the transfer of rights and privileges of the former contractor to you. [NOTE 5]

I have the Authority of my partners involved to propose that you should be willing to assist us in this transaction, your share of the sum is 30% of the $21.5Million, 60% for us and 5% for taxation and miscellaneous expenses and remaining 5% will be for charity organization. The transaction itself is 100% safe, on your part provided you treats it with utmost secrecy and confidentiality. Also, your area of specialization is not a hindrance to the successful execution of this transaction. I have reposed my confidence in you and hope that you will not disappoint me. I want to assure you that my partner and myself are in the position to make the payment of this claim possible, provided that you can give us a very strong assurance and guarantee that the funds will be secured and please, remember to treat this matter very confidential, because we will not comprehend with any form of exposure as we are still in active Government service.

Please, reply me on my confidential email address: mabuza_p07adb@yanoo.com [NOTE 6] or call / fax your response directly to my. Tel: 27-73-714080 OR Fax No.:27-11-507 6944.
Once again, remember that time is of great essence in this transaction . I wait in anticipation of your fullest co-operation.

Thank you for your co-operation.
Yours Faithfully, ENGR. PAUL MABUZA

• NOTE 1: They seem to think that these bracketed initials will impress, and use them often.

• NOTE 2: He does not want you to talk to a friend who might know all about these scams.

• NOTE 3: They like to give themselves a title! Engr., Barrister, Pastor, Dr., are favourites.

• NOTE 4: About average for a fraud e-mail.

• NOTE 5: It all sounds very straightforward, but once the bait is taken the scam becomes more convoluted and the victim will be asked to send money for "legal fees" or "insurance" to a newly introduced fictitious firm. This is the advance fee, hence "the Advance Fee Scam". Western Union will be the criminal's money transfer agency of choic

• NOTE 6: So confidential that he has mailed it to potential victims around the world!

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