YOUR ASSISTANCE PLEASE

         May I take the honour to introduce myself=2E
I am Mr  Bheki Maphalala the secretary of a five-man tenders board committee
of the South Africa Ministry of Housing=2E

I have been mandated by my colleagues to search for a reliable and honest
foreign associate to help us realise a business venture involving the sum of
US$10=2E5million =28ten million five hundred thousand united states dollars=29=2E

Two years ago=2C this committee was given the responsibility of awarding
contracts to a consortium of foreign companies for the supply of y2k compliant
computers and also the construction of staff quarters=2E

These contracts were valued at US$18=2E5million=2EMy colleagues and I decided to
help ourselves by over invoicing the actual contract value to the tune of
US$29million=2EThis money has since been approved for payment=2E

However=2C the contractors have long been fully paid and the projects
commissioned leaving us with the excess amount of US$10=2E5million which is
currently been held at the South African Reserve Bank ready to be transferred
within 10 working days from the date we submit application for claim=2E

As civil servants=2C we are prohibited by the code of conduct of the civil
service commission from operating dollar or offshore account of any kind=2C
hence this letter to you=2E

We have carefully mapped out the modalities to lay claim to this money as soon
as we find a reliable and trustworthy foreign associate in whose custody we
shall entrust the sum of US$10=2E5million=2E

This transaction is 100% risk and hitch free as long as you adhere strictly to
our instructions=2E

The need for strict confidentiality cannot be over emphasized=2C considering the
nature of this transaction=2E

We have mapped out 20% for your assistance and participation=2E

Details of how we intend to carry out this project will be discussed as soon
as we get a response from you=2E

We await your response=2C which should be accompanied with your telephone and
fax numbers=2E As we look forward to a good business relationship with you=2E

Best regards=2C
Mr Bheki Maphalala=2E