Got this in my e-mail tonight:

FROM THE DESK OF PRINCE TUNJI MOHAMMED
FAX NUMBER: 234 9 2720164

DEAR SIR,

WE ARE SENDING THIS LETTER TO YOU BASED ON INFORMATION GATHERED FROM THE FOREIGN TRADE OFFICE OF THE NIGERIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY. WE BELIEVE THAT YOU WOULD BE IN A POSITION
TO HELP US IN OUR BID TO TRANSFER THE SUM OF FORTY-0NE MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($18M USD) INTO A FOREIGN ACCOUNT.

WE ARE MEMBERS OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE FOR BUDGET AND PLANNING OF THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM, THIS COMMITTEE IS PRINCIPALLY CONCERNED WITH CONTRACT APPRAISALS AND APPROVAL OF CONTRACTS IN ORDER OF PRIORITIES AS REGARDS CAPITAL PROJECT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA. WITH OUR POSITIONS, WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY SECURED FOR OUR SELVES THE SUM OF EIGHTEEN THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS (US$41.5M). THIS AMOUNT WAS ACCUMULATED THROUGH OVER INVOICED CONTRACTS PURPOSELY DONE BY US FOR OUR OWN GAINS.

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU IS TO PLAY THE ROLE OF EXECUTOR OF THE CONTRACT AND THEREFORE THE BENEFICIARY OF THE FUNDS, YOU WILLALSO PROVIDE A SAFE ACCOUNT WHICH THE INCIDENCE OF TAX WILL BE LOW AND WE ARE SURE TO BE ABLE SPEND THE MONEY AFTER THEN, INTO WHICH THE FUNDS WILL BE TRANSFERRED SINCE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE NOT ALLOWED BY OUR LAWS TO OPERATE FOREIGN ACCOUNT. IT HAS BEEN AGREED THAT THE OWNER OF THE ACCOUNT WILL BE COMPENSATED WITH US$8.3 MILLION OF THE REMITTED FUNDS, WE KEEP US$31.125MILLION WHILE US$2.075MILLION WILL BE SET ASIDE TO OFFSET EXPENSES AND PAY THE NECESSARY TAXES.
SO IF YOU CAN PROVE YOURSELF TO BE TRUSTED AND INTERESTED IN THIS DEAL THEN WE ARE PREPARED TO DO BUSINESS WITH YOU. WHAT WE WANT FROM YOU IS THE ASSURANCE THAT YOU WILL LET US HAVE OUR SHARE WHEN THIS AMOUNT OF US$41.5M IS TRANSFERRED INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.IF THIS PROPOSAL SATISFIES YOU, PLEASE CONTACT ME STRICTLY THROUGH MY E-MAIL STATED ABOVE, MY FAX NUMBER.ABOVE SO WE CAN ADVICE YOU ON THE MODALITIES OF THE TRANSACTION. ALL MODALITIES OF THE TRANSFER HAVE BEEN WORKED OUTAND ONCE STARTED WILL NOT TAKE MORE THAN 30 WORKING DAYS WITH THE ABSOLUTE SUPPORT OF ALL CONCERNED. THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% SAFE. PLEASE TREAT AS URGENT AND VERY CONFIDENTIAL.

GOD BE WITH YOU AS I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR REPLY.

BEST REGARDS.

PRINCE TUNJI MOHAMMED

And I felt privileged when Michael Barone sent me an e-mail. Now I get mail from a prince!

This is a scam, for those of you who don't know it. If you're going to throw away your money, throw it away on me -- not some prince.

(That didn't come out right.)