Maryam Abacha

Maryam Abacha is a real person, she is Sani Abacha's wife. General Sani Abacha was the military dictator of Nigeria from 1993 until his untimely death by heart attack in 1998. It is true that Abacha embezzled millions of dollars of public funds. Small wonder his widow wants to keep a reasonable share nice and safe for a rainy day. In her search for a trustworthy foreign partner she stumbles across Ron Vibbentrop, inventor and mechanic from Saaftinge, Rottumerplaat. To be honest, Ron is a very close friend of Max Wieldruk. Ron is not for real, let me assure you. But then, neither are this 'Mrs. Abacha' or her barrister...

Dramatis Personae

Good guys:
Ron Vibbentrop, inventor and mechanic
Cas te Kort, his banker
Zacharias Wendel, lawyer
Bad guys:
Maryam Abacha, widow of General Sani Abacha
Gani Fawehinme, her lawyer

Mail 1: A more or less 'standard' Abacha letter

Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 05:15:44 -0700
From: dr.mrs_maryam_abacha@handbag.com
Subject: GOOD DAY
CONFIDENTIAL/URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL.

Dear Friend,

I am delighted to write this letter to you hoping that you will understand my predicament and answer back without hesitation. I am Dr Maryam Abacha the wife of the late Nigerian head of State General Sani Abacha. I got your contact on the internet as I was making contact for a honest foreigner who will help save my life and my children, hence our country has been frustrating us since the death of my husband.

I am in possession of $25 000.000 (TWENTY FIVE MILLION U.S DOLLARS ONLY) which I want to invest in your country. For your clarification and understanding,this money in a box which my husband deposited in the finance and security company in dis-guise as a family treasure since 11th of febuary 1998, is not an ill gotten wealth rather, it was generated from my organisation FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM (F.S.P). I will enlighten you more of this organisation if you indicate a helping interest to secure this money on my behalf.

On your acceptance to render this assistance to me,I will instruct the finance company to effect a change of ownership of this fund in your name as the bona-fide owner to enable you claim the fund from the security and finance company,also I will disclose to you the country and the name of the finance and security company where this money is being deposited.

What I demand from you now is to arrange for a visit to the finance company where this money is being deposited and claim it as the bona-fide owner.It is very ideal you forward to me your private telephone and fax numbers to enable me send all relevant documents pertaining the deposit of this fund for your clarification and more understanding.

Bear in mind that this transaction demands absolute confidentiality because properties and bank accounts both local and international bearing the Abacha's family name, are being ordered to be confiscated by the newly elected civilian President of Nigeria (President Olusegun Obasanjo) hence I will not want to be exposed.

Let me refer you to the front page of This Day Newspapers of 10th March 2001. You can check it through their website:www.thisdayonline.com , click on archives,8th.june,2001) The present government in Nigeria had frozen and seized all my bank accounts both here in Nigeria and abroad.

Thus l shall expect you to contact me urgently to enable us discuss in detail about this transaction For your knowledge, 25% of this fund $25 000.000 (TWENTY FIVE MILLION U.S DOLLARS) will be given to you if you assist me to secure this fund and another 5% has been set aside for all the expenses you might incure during the process of securing this fund.Example: TELEPHONE BILLS, HOTEL BILLS, FLIGHT BILLS and other mislenous expenses.

When you must have taken the agreed percentage, you will use part of the balance to buy a living house for my family there in your country, where we shall live in the future and the remaining part will be kept for investment package also in your country which will be under your supervision.

Contact me through my son (OMAR ABACHA) who recently escaped from Nigeria to Johannesboug South Africa where he is now staying as a refuge on his email address omarabacha@hotmail.com to avoid us losing this money, since it is the only remaining fund for the survival of my family. Thanks for your anticipated co-operation. Yours sincerely, MRS.MARYAM ABACHA Please for security reasons reply to my alternative email address:mrs_maryamabacha48@yahoo.ie

Mail 2: Ron has never heard about this sort of thing before....

Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 21:52:02 +0100 (BST)
From: "Ron Vibbentrop" <ronvibbentrop>
Subject: Re: GOOD DAY
To: mrs_maryamabacha48@yahoo.ie, omarabacha@hotmail.com

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Abacha,

Now that is a strange email you sent me, about this huge amount in the finance and security company that nobody can get at. Are you sure you sent this mail to the right person? Anyway, I don't mind helping you to get this money that you have a right to.

Let me introduce myself. My name is Ron Vibbentrop and I run a garage here in Saaftinge in the Republieck Rottumerplaat. Please let me know what I should do to help you.

And are you really sure this is risk free? It sounds so strange! I've never heard about this sort of thing before, so please let me know more.

Yours sincerely,

=====
Ron Vibbentrop MA
Koeienstraat 67
1032 ZZ Saaftinge
Republieck Rottumerplaat

Mail 3: Enter Maryam's lawyer

[This is no doubt a standard form letter...]

'Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2004 10:00:55 +0100 (BST)
From: "maryam abacha" <mrs_maryamabacha48@yahoo.ie>
Subject: CONTACT MY LAWYER IMMEDIATELLY.
To: "Ron Vibbentrop" <ronvibbentrop>

Dear Friend,

Thanks for your encouraging reply to my business proposal. The truth must be told and accepted for nobody pointed you to me but i only secured your contact address from our large chambers of commerce and industry. [Well I'm surprised...]

As you are aware today's global business transaction is mostly done by persons living in different cities and many miles apart. Thus, trust has become the bedrock and cornerstone of such dealings. i have thought over it and we have once more deliberated on the possibility of doing this transaction with you, i am exercising great discretion so as not to fall into wrong hands.

I would need personal assurance from you that you are going to be fair, co-operative and straight forward with me. What i really need is trusted and competent associate who would handle the fund for me when it is finally released to you; i pray that i find such a person in you.

Time factor could not allow me to hold a meeting with you. Since i needed this fund to be in your care as soon as possible.

To commence this transaction you need to forward your full contact information, your mailing address, tel and fax number to my lawyer, so that he can file in application for the release of the fund into your care and send all necessary documents for the transaction.

Name: Barrister Gani Fawehinme ESQ
Telephone: 234-80-35671515
E-mail: ganifawehinme@justice.com

Please reach him as soon as possible with the required data so that we can move ahead with transaction immediately also he will let you know how to reach the Security Company in Europe were the fund is been deposited for security purpose.

My friend, also note that my entire hope is on this fund for a better future for me and my family for it was on this note i consider it proper to write and seek for your consent to support the transaction.
Please note that i have proposed to use this money for joint venture establishments in your country, into a good investment were we can invest this money.

Thanks & God bless,
Dr.Mrs.Maryam Abacha.
(For the family)

Mail 4: Ron writes to the lawyer

Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2004 20:47:47 +0100 (BST)
From: "Ron Vibbentrop" <ronvibbentrop>
Subject: Mrs Abacha
To: ganifawehinme@justice.com

Dear Barrister Gani Fawehinme ESQ,

I was instructed by Mrs. Abacha to send you my contact details. Here are my telephone and fax numbers, my address is at the bottom of this mail. Please instruct me what to do next!

Tel : + xx xx xxx xx xx Fax : + xx xx xxx xx xx

Yours,

=====
Ron Vibbentrop MA

[Yes, I used real telephone numbers. But they belong to a company which specializes in sending out fraudulent invoices, and which never answers the phone...]

Mail 5: The lawyer's form reply...

[And his CAPS LOCK is stuck...]

To: ronvibbentrop
From: "GANI FAWEHINME" <ganifawehinme@justice.com>
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE
Date: Fri, 03 Sep 2004 00:55:30 -0700 (PDT)

ATTN: RON

I RECEIVED YOUR MAIL AND I WISH TO THANK YOU IMMENSELY FOR YOUR KIND INTEREST TO CO-OPERATE WITH MY CLIENT "MRS.MARIAM ABACHA" ON THIS TRANSACTION AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SUPPORT AND ASSIST HER IN THIS TRANSACTION. PLEASE, FIND HEREUNDER THE DETAILS OF THE TRANSACTION FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING.

I AM BARRI.GANI FAWEHINME ATTORNEY TO LATE WIDOW OF OUR FORMER HEAD OF STATES GEN.SANNI ABACHA, SINCE THE DEATH OF HER LATE HUSBAND THE FAMILY HAS KEPT UNDER MY CARE ALL THEIR VALUABLES AND MONEY, AND THEIR HAS BEEN SO MUCH TRUST IMPOSED ON ME BY THIS FAMILY.

THIS TRANSACTION IS REAL, AND ONE HUNDRED PERCENT RISK FREE AND DOES NOT RELATE TO ANY BREACH OF LAW OR PROCEED FROM DRUGS. IT IS A MATTER OF NECESSITY TO CONTACT YOU FOR THIS TRANSACTION WITHOUT FURTHER INVESTIGATION ABOUT YOUR PERSON, AS I VIEW YOU TO BE A MORE RESPONSIBLE PERSONALITY.

IT IS THEREFORE NECESSARY THAT YOU TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF.

I HOPE YOU WOULD NOT BETRAY HER. AS FOR TRUST, IT IS A GIVEN THING THAT TRUST IS EARNED, IT IS NOT GIVEN OUTLIGHTLY; HOWEVER, BECAUSE SHE NEED YOU IN THIS TRANSACTION, I MUST GIVE YOU MY TRUST, IT IS WORTH 25% OF THIS MONEY... I BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL KEEP YOU FROM REFUSING TO GIVE HER OWN SHARE OF THE MONEY IF THE TRANSACTION IS COMPLETED.

THIS FUND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS BEEN DEPOSITED WITH A SECURITY COMPANY EUROPE AND YOUR WILLINGNESS WILL HELP IN CLAIM OUT THIS FUND FROM THE SECURITY COMPANY

BEAR THIS IN MIND THAT THIS FAMILY NOW SEES YOU HAS THEIR HOPE AND GOD TO ANOTHER BETTER LIVING ON THIS EARTH. FOR YOU SHOULD PLEASE TRY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, TO STAND BY YOUR WORDS IN KEEPING THIS TRANSACTION CONFIDENTIAL.

I SPOKE WITH MRS.ABACHA AND SHE ALSO COMFIRMED TO ME THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO INVEST THE SAID MONEY THEIR IN YOUR COUNTRY, INTO ANY GOOD AREA OF VENTURE THAT YOU KNOW VERY WELL WILL BE PROFITABLE TO HER AND ALSO THAT SHE WOULD LIKE YOU TO HELP HER TAKE CARE OF THE BUSINESS ONCE THIS DONE, BUT ALL THIS WOULD BE WHEN SHE COMES OVER TO MEET WITH YOU THEIR IN YOUR COUNTRY.

LETS PUT HANDS TOGETHER TO ACHIVE OUR OBJECTIVES IN THIS TRANSACTION.

CONTACT ME ON MY DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER AS TO ENABLE US MOVE AHEAD.

BEST REGARDS,

BARRISTR GANI FAWEHINME. ESQ
DIRECT TELEPHONE: 234-80-35671515

Mail 6: Ron's reply....

Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2004 20:45:41 +0100 (BST)
From: "Ron Vibbentrop" <ronvibbentrop>
Subject: Re: URGENT RESPONSE
To: "GANI FAWEHINME" <ganifawehinme@justice.com>

Dear Gani Fawehinme,

Thank you. Of course you can trust me. After all, it is not my money, but Mrs. Abacha's money, right? I would like you to invest part of the money in my garage. At least that's what I'm going to do with the share you will kindly give me.

Here is my phone number: + xx xx xxx xx [the number differed from my earlier email. He never noticed...]. Unfortunately I haven't been able to pay the phone bill lately so you may experience some difficulty contacting me. I tried to phone you today but somehow I couldn't get through.

I'm a former professor of civil engineering of the University of Ergernisse, but due to circumstances beyond my control I've rather come down in the world. At present I run a garage here in Saaftinge, working in my spare time on my secret invention that will
allow cars to run on tap water. [He never commented on this nonsense...]

You'll find my address at the bottom of this mail. I attach a picture of me in my garage so you can see what I look like. It's not a very good picture but it'll have to do for the moment.

Yours,

=====
Ron Vibbentrop MA

[Found this picture on 'Cliff Yablonski Hates You'; a great source for pictures to use in scambaiting. My sincere apologies to whoever actually is in this picture...]

Mail 7: Gani Fawehinme wants to know what to invest the money in...

(His CAPS LOCK is still stuck...)

To: ronvibbentrop
From: "GANI FAWEHINME" <ganifawehinme@justice.com>
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE (SEE ATTACHMENT)
Date: Sat, 04 Sep 2004 02:35:05 -0700 (PDT)

ATTENTION:RON

I AM IN RECEIPT OF YOUR MAIL,IT WAS NICE SEEING YOUR PICTURE AND I MUST THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ACCEPTING TO HELP THIS FAMILY FROM THEIR BONDAGE!YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW THIS WOMAN IS BEEN MALTREATED AND SUFFERING SINCE THE DEATH OF HER HUSBAND BY THE NEW ELECTED PRESIDENT.THIS ALSO CAUSE TO THE EXILE OF HER SON OMAR WHO IS NOW IN SOUTH AFRICA REFUGEE CAMP.

SHE GAVE TO ME THE LITTLE MONEY SHE HAD WITH HER TO MAKE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTATIONS ON YOUR NAME TO BE THE BENEFICIARY OF THE CONSIGNMENT IN EUROPE.WHICH I HAVE GONE TO THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT YEATERDAY TO PUT IN APPLICVATIONS ON YOUR NAME TO MAKE ALL THESE DOCUMENTS WHICH I WILL SEND TO YOU AS SOON AS IT IS BEEN APROVED TO YOU.

PLEASE ADVICE ON WHAT YOU THINK WILL BE WISE FOR HER TO INVEST HER SHARE OF THE MONEY INTO IN YOUR COUNTRY THAT WILL FETCH MUCH PROFIT FOR HER AND THE FAMILY AS SOON AS YOU HAVE GONE TO THE SECURITY COMPANY TO CLAIM THE CONSIGNMENT BACK TO YOUR COUNTRY.

ATTACHED IS THE CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT IN WHICH HER LATE HUSBAND DEPOSITED THE CONSIGNMENT IN,YOU ARE TO PLEASE KEEP IN A SAFE PLACE.PLEASE BEAR IT IN MIND THAT THE SECURITY COMPANY DOES NOT KNOW THAT IT IS MONEY IN THE BOX IT WAS DEPOSITED AS FAMILY TREASURES FOR SECURITY REASONS BY HER LATE HUSBAND.SO YOU ARE ADVICED TO START PREPARING TO MEET WITH THE SECURTITY COMPANY IN EUROPE TO CLAIM THE CONSIGNMENT WITH THEIR HANDLING CHARGES AND CLEARANCE FEE TO PAY TO THE SECURITY COMPANY TO ENABLE THEM HANDOVER THE CONSIGNMENT TO YOU.PLEASE BEAR IT IN MIND THAT ANY EXPENSES YOU MAKE REGARDS TO THIS TRANSACTION SHOULD BE KEPT IN RECORD SO THAT WHEN MARYAM IS COMING OVER TO MEET WITH YOU AS SOON AS YOU HAVE CLAIMED THE CONSIGNMENT,SHE WILL BE COMING OVER TO MEET WITH YOU WITH HER RECORD OF EXPENSES AND IT WILL BE REDUCTED FROM 5% OF THE TOTAL SUM BEFORE SHARING THE REMAINING ACCORDING TO THE PERCENTAGE.

REGARDS

BARRISTER GANI FAWEHINME ESQ

The deposit certificate...

Mail 8: The Agreement...

To: ronvibbentrop
From: "GANI FAWEHINME" <ganifawehinme@justice.com>
Subject: TRUST AGREEMENT(SIGN AND SEND BACK TO ME)
Date: Sat, 04 Sep 2004 02:53:22 -0700 (PDT)

ATTENTION:RON

ATTACHED IS THE TRUST AGREEMENT.READ CAREFULLY AND SIGN THEN YOU SEND BACK TO ME.

REGARDS

BARRISTER GANI FAWEHINME ESQ

Mail 9: A social talk from Maryam

Date: Sat, 4 Sep 2004 14:26:37 +0100 (BST)
From: "maryam abacha" <mrs_maryamabacha48@yahoo.ie>
Subject: PLEASE UPDATE ME.
To: "Ron Vibbentrop" <ronvibbentrop>

Dear Ron,

How are you doing today? I have not heard from you all this while. I hope all is well.

Update me if there is any progress.

I am sending my family picture to you and the consignment box that contains the money so that you will have an idea of what it looks like, please this money was deposited as family treassure to the security company and not as money, take note. Do not disclose to them the contents in any way.

Get back to me as soon as you get this mail and i will be glad if you send me a copy of your picture too.

Regards,
Dr,Mrs.Maryam Abacha

Maryam's family picture...

And The Money Picture. It came as a huge 1280x960, 187 kb crystal clear photo, one of the best I've ever seen. But I'm sure I 'd seen it all before...

Mail 10: Maryam wants an update

(some five minutes after her previous mail; it included The Family Picture and The Money Picture again...)

Date: Sat, 4 Sep 2004 14:32:01 +0100 (BST)
From: "maryam abacha" <mrs_maryamabacha48@yahoo.ie>
Subject: PLEASE UPDATE ME.
To: "Ron Vibbentrop" <ronvibbentrop>

Dear Ron,

How are you doing today? I have not heard from you all this while. I hope all is well.

Update me if there is any progress.
[etc., etc.]

Mail 11: Ron returns the Agreement to the lawyer

Date: Sun, 5 Sep 2004 15:32:00 +0100 (BST)
From: "Ron Vibbentrop" <ronvibbentrop>
Subject: Re: URGENT RESPONSE (SEE ATTACHMENT)
To: "GANI FAWEHINME" <ganifawehinme@justice.com>

Dear Gani Fawehinme,

Thank you so much. Thanks for your agreement. My printer's out of order so I had to retype the lot in the oldfashioned way on letterhead paper of my garage. Good thing my scanner's still working. Sorry about the coffee stain, but this project requires a bit of a hurry of course.

How to invest the money? As I told you, I'm working on a project to allow cars to run on common tap water. [Does he actually read this nonsense? I doubt it...] I for one will invest my part of the money in this project. This invention cannot fail, and I'm sure Mrs Abacha's money would be well invested in my secret project. I'm sure the world will be astounded when I present my invention to the world! That shouldn't take long, it takes some money, but please keep this a secret. After all, if the big oil companies like Shell or Exxon were to hear of this, they might just as well close up.

Well, I attach the scan of the agreement. I suppose Mrs Abacha will sign next; please return a copy to me! I'll sure do my best to help Mrs Abacha. After all, she is more or less in a cleft stick and I'm glad I can help!

Yours,

Ron

=====
Ron Vibbentrop MA

The lawyer sent his document as an rtf-file. I could not resist the challenge of making him believe I actually retyped the whole lot and added a coffee stain to add some colour.... As usual, he didn't flinch...

Mail 12: Ron sends a reply to Mrs Abacha

Date: Sun, 5 Sep 2004 15:38:22 +0100 (BST)
From: "Ron Vibbentrop" <ronvibbentrop>
Subject: Re: PLEASE UPDATE ME.
To: omarabacha@hotmail.com, mrs_maryamabacha48@yahoo.ie

Dear Mrs Abacha,

I'm ever so happy I can help you, and at the same time you're helping my project to make cars run on tap water. [They'll believe anything...] I received a copy of the deposit and an agreement, which I signed and returned to your lawyer. Really being able to help you is good for you as it is for me. I'll do my very best, I assure you!

You know, from the start I was afraid this might be a bit of a put-up thing. After all it sounded too good to be true. But then you sent me a picture of this huge trunk box full of money. It took away all my doubts. I never saw a thing like that before.

Well, the lawyer will arrange for me to pick up this trunk box somewhere in Europe. I'll be there, you can be sure of that!

Ron.

=====
Ron Vibbentrop MA

Mail 13: The lawyer wants an advance fee

(Now who would have thought it. Time for the fun to start in real earnest...)

To: ronvibbentrop
From: "GANI FAWEHINME" <ganifawehinme@justice.com>
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE (SEE ATTACHMENT)
Date: Mon, 06 Sep 2004 02:35:37 -0700 (PDT)

ATTENTION:RON

HOW WAS THE WEEKEND?I PRAY THAT THE GOOD LORD WILL CONTINUE TO SHOWER HIS BLESSINGS ON YOU FOR HELPING OUT THIS FAMILY.

I WAS AT THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE on FRIDAY TO MAKE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENATTIONS ON YOUR NAME TO SEND TO YOU TO BE THE BENEFICIARY OF THE CONSIGNMENT IN EUROPE FOR CLAIMS.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE DOCUMENTATIONS HAS BEEN APPROVED TO YOU BUT THE PROBLEM WE ARE HAVING IS THAT IT HAS TO BE WELL SCRUTINIZED AND SIGNED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF OATH WHICH HE IS DEMANDING FOR A FEE BEFORE HE WILL SIGN THESE DOCUMENTS.I PLEADED ALL I CAN WITH HIM BUT TO KNOW AVAIL BECAUSE WHAT MARYAM GAVE TO ME WHICH I BELEIVE IT WAS HER LAST MONEY BECAUSE SHE JUST SOLD OUT HER BELONGINGS TO BE ABLE TO RAISE THE MONEY FOR THE DOCUMNETATIONS ON YOUR NAME WAS NOT ENOUGH.

AND I HAVE GONE TO HER TO KNOW IF THEIR IS ANY THING I COULD RAISE FROM HER,BUT MY GOOD FRIEND SHE HAS NOTHING WITH HER AND SHE IS REALLY WEEPING BECAUSE SHE HAS BEGIN TO LOOSE HOPE THAT SHE IS GOING TO LOOSE THIS MONEY.

MY GOOD FRIEND THIS IS THE PROBLEM AT HAND,THE COMMISSIONER OF OATH HAS REFUSED TO SIGN THIS DOCUMENTS UNLESS WE GIVE HIM HIS FEE HE IS DEMANDING FOR.HE IS DEMANDING FOR HIS COMPLETE FEE BEFORE HE WILL SIGN THE DOCUMENT.HE IS DEMANDING FOR 3750 EURO BEFORE HE CAN APROVE AND SIGN HIS SIGNATURE FOR THE DOCUMENTS TO BE RELEASED IN YOUR NAME.

I HAVE ALREADY GIVEN TO HIM THE 2500 EURO WHICH MARYAM HAS GIVEN TO ME AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TO PAY TO HIM THE REMAINING 1250 EURO FOR HIM TO SIGN THIS DOCUMENTS TODAY.SO THAT HE WILL APPROVE THE DOCUMENTS AND SIGN THEN I WILL SEND THEM TO YOU IMMEDIATELY.
PLEASE I AM PLEADING TO YOU TO ASSIST WITH THE REMAINING BALANCE SO THAT EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY AND FOR THE CONSIGNMENT TO BE AT YOUR OWN CARE BY THIS WEEK.

AS A MATTER OF URGENCY YOU ARE ADVICED TO SEND THIS MONEY THROUGH WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER THROUGH MY ACCOUNTING OFFICER SO THAT I CAN BE ABLE TO MEET UP WITH THE COURT BY TOMMORROW

NAME:BEN OBINA
LAGOS NIGERIA

QUESTION:WHAT FOR

ANSWER:SIGN

PLEASE MY GOOD FRIEND DO THIS IMMEDIATELLY.AND BEAR IT IN MIND THAT WHAT EVER EXPENSES YOU INCURE IN THIS TRANSACTION WILL BE REDUCTED FROM 5% OF THE TOTAL SUM BEFORE SHARING THE REMAINING,SO YOU ARE ADVICED TO PUT IN RECORD THE EXPENSES YOU MAKE AND SEND TO ME BECAUSE MARYAM ALREADY HAS HER OWN RECORD OF EXPENSES WITH ME TOO.

THE PROBLEM AT HAND NOW IS THE FEE TO FINALIZE THE DOCUMENTATION TO ENABLE ME SEND THE DOCUMENT TO YOU SO AND THE CONTACT OF THE SECURITY COMPANY IN EUROPE SO THAT YOU WILL MEET WITH THEM THIS WEEK. YOU WILL PRESENT TO THE OFFICE THESES DOCUMENTS TO ENABLE THEM HAND OVER THE CONSIGNMENT TO YOU.

PLEASE YOU ARE ADVICED TO SEND THE FEE,DELAY IS DANGEROUS.AS SOON AS YOU HAVE SENT IT,PLEASE YOU ARE TO SEND THE WESTERN UNION INFORMATIONS TO ME.

ATTACHED IS MY INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT.

REGARDS
BARRISTER GANI FAWEHINME ESQ

The lawyer's passport. Either it's well faked or stolen...

Mail 14: Enter the banker...

Date: Mon, 6 Sep 2004 21:31:15 +0100 (BST)
From: "Ron Vibbentrop" <ronvibbentrop>
Subject: Re: URGENT RESPONSE (SEE ATTACHMENT)
To: "GANI FAWEHINME" <ganifawehinme@justice.com>

Dear Gani Fawehinme,

Of course I have taken care to send you the money straight away. I went to see my banker, Mr. Cas te Kort of the Verdronken bank van Saaftinge. He's a personal friend of mine and you can trust him completely.

We don't have any Western Union here. The Republieck Rottumerplaat is a member of the Union of Eastern European States (also called Eastern Union) [He didn't see the pun I guess...] but that's probably not what you meant anyway.

To cut a long story short: the bank can send you the money, but there's a form to be filled in first. Mr. Cas te Kort will send it to you by email.

And don't worry: Cas told me he would'nt mention this to anyone, honest. But it all has to do with anti-money laundering legislation and a law that guards the glorious revolution of our country.

Anyway: you fill in the form, Cas te Kort will send you the money. No problem at all.

Yours,

Ron

=====
Ron Vibbentrop MA

Mail 15: The banker wants a form filled in...

Date: Mon, 6 Sep 2004 13:41:29 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Cas te Kort" <castekort@>
Subject: Transfer
To: ganifawehinme@justice.com

Dear Sir,

My client, Mr. Ron Vibbentrop, asked our bank to transfer an amount of 3.750 euros to you. In accordance with the Rules of Revolutionary Banking of our country, we will d o so as soon as we receive the necessary information from you. Kindly fill in and return the questionnare attached to this mail. To expedite matters you may scan this form and return by email.

We trust to have served in this matter and remain,

Yours sincerely,

=====
Cas te Kort, Ph.D
Verdronken Bank van Saaftinge
Geldweg 41,
Postbus 9,
1012 BV Saaftinge,
Republieck Rottumerplaat

************************
Revolutionair Bankieren!
************************

[I sent the blank 'bank form' which you will find filled in further on in this tale...]

Mail 16: Ah great, he's off his format now...

And he doesn't like it. (And his CAPS LOCK is still stuck...)

To: ronvibbentrop
From: "GANI FAWEHINME" <ganifawehinme@justice.com>
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE
Date: Tue, 07 Sep 2004 01:27:55 -0700 (PDT)

ATTENTION:RON

I RECEIVED YOUR MAIL!I TRIED CALLING YOU YESTERADY BUT ITS NOT GOING, IT'S JUST GIVING ME ENGAGEMENT TONE.THE FORM THAT YOUR BANB SENT TO ME I DO NOT UNDERSTAND IT!INVOLVING ALL THIS BANK AND OTHERWISE,I DO NOT UNDERSTAND YOU,BECAUSE YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION OF THIS WOMAN,SHE IS WELL KNOWN WORLD WIDE EVEN NOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA IS MONITORING HER THAT IS WHY THEY KEPT HER IN HOUSE ARREST THAT IS WHY THEY HAD TO FREEZE ALL THEIR ACCOUNT BOTH LOCAL AND INTERNATIUONAL TO MAKE SURE THEY TRACE EVERY PROPERTY WHICH THE LATE HUSBAND INHERRITTED DURING HIS REGIME.

I BELEIVE THAT THIS TRANSACTION SHOULD BE KEPT WITH UTMOST SECRECY BETWEEN YOU AND MRS MARYAM ABACHA AND I AS THE THIRD PARTY THE LEGAL ARTTORNEY THAT WILL SECURE AND CHANGE ALL THE VITAL DOCUMENTS FROM HER HUSBAND;S NAME TO YOUR NAME AS THE BENEFICIARY,YOU MUST REALIZE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO THE SECURITY COMPANY IN EUROPE TO PICK UP THIS CONSIGNMENT IN CASH.I DO NOT SEE REASON WHY YOU ARE INVOLVING THE BANK IN IT.IT WILL BE AFTER YOU MUST HAVE RECEIVED THE CONSIGNMENT FROM THE SECURITY COMPANY,THEN YOU CAN INVOLVE YOUR BANK BY LODGING IT FOR SAFETY KEEP TILL MARYAM COMES OVER TO MEET WITH YOU IN YOUR COUNTRY FOR DISBURSEMENT.MY GOOD FRIEND YOU MUST REALIZE THAT DELAY IS DANGEROUS AND I WILL ADVICE YOU NOW IF YOUR BANK DOES NOT HAVE WESTERN UNION OR MONEYGRAM,YOU ARE ADVICE TO TAKE YOUR MONEY AND TRAVEL TO A NEAR BY PLACE WHERE THEY HAVE WESTERN UNION AND SEND THIS FEE TO ENABLE THE COMMISSIONER OF OATH SIGN THESE DOCUMENTS ON YOUR NAME SO THAT I CAN SEND THE DOCUMENTS TO YOU TO MEET WITH THE SECURITY COMPANY.,AND THIS TRANSACTION WILL BE COMPLETED THIS WEEK AND TO ENABLE THIS WOMAN START PREPARING TO MEET WITH YOU IN YOUR COUNTRY THIS WEEK.I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO CALL YOU BUT ITS NOT GOING PLEASE RECONFIRM TO ME YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE NUMBER WHICH I CAN REACH YOU WITH.

REGARDS

BARRISTER GANI FAWEHINME ESQ

Mail 17: Maryam assures me she's in a very very difficult position...

(With millions in the bank. Poor girl...)

Date: Tue, 7 Sep 2004 12:09:00 +0100 (BST)
From: "maryam abacha" <mrs_maryamabacha48@yahoo.ie>
Subject: Re: PLEASE UPDATE ME.
To: "Ron Vibbentrop" <ronvibbentrop>

Dear Brother,

i am really happy and must thank you for all your effort towards helping me out of bondage.please i am begging you in the name of God to help me out.i am really suffering here and maltreated.i do not have anything with me now because all my husbands properties has been seized and i have to sell off his clothes and last car to make sure things worksout .

please my brother make a way and receive the consignment to enable me start preparing to meet with you.anything that it will cost you please go ahead when i come over we will settle it out.even though it will cost me to have a liittle in my share to settle you i do not mind since i have something to start investment in your country.i am really weeping as i write you this mail

to communicate with email all time but i am allowed occassionally.please make things possible so that i can start preparing to come over and meet with you in your country.

your sister

maryam abacha

[Please note that her lawyer uses CAPS only, but she... Well never mind...]

Mail 18: Ron reassures the angry lawyer...

Date: Tue, 7 Sep 2004 20:38:24 +0100 (BST)
From: "Ron Vibbentrop" <ronvibbentrop>
Subject: Re: URGENT RESPONSE
To: "GANI FAWEHINME" <ganifawehinme@justice.com>

Dear brother Gani Fawehinme,

Rest assured, the banker is a personal friend of mine and our project is safe with him. Cas te Kort, my banker, will pay you the amount needed, but the banking laws here are very very strict: you *must* fill in this form and return it, otherwise he can't do anything for you. It is a mere formality, but we must adhere to the rules of revolutionary banking which apply in our country. I spoke to him on the phone just now; the moment he receives the form he will send you the money. You see, the money is not the problem, but the banking laws here.

So please, fill in and return ASAP, otherwise you'll jeopardize the project and we won't be able to help Mrs. Abacha!

As I told you: we don't have Western Union here. Tehy may have that in Denmark or Holland, I don't know, but to get a travel permit from the government will take weeks to this really is the quickest way. Really, I'm doing all I can to help!

(Strange you didn't get me on the phone. Guess the Dutch have tampered with our international phone lines again. This happens all the time, blast them. I tried to call you, but to no avail... Just ot make sure, these are my phone and fax numbers: Tel : + xx xx xxx xx xx Fax : + xx xx xxx xx xx)
[And a new phone number again. Whoever noticed it: not our friend the lawyer...]
Your brother,

Ron

Mail 19: Ron replies to Mrs. Abacha...

Date: Tue, 7 Sep 2004 20:42:10 +0100 (BST)
From: "Ron Vibbentrop" <ronvibbentrop>
Subject: Re: PLEASE UPDATE ME.
To: omarabacha@hotmail.com

Dear Mrs Abacha,

I'm doing all I can to help you, rest assured, and please dry your tears. I'm in contact with your lawyer. He wants some money for documents, which I promised to pay him. However, he seems unwilling to comply with our banking regulations, so please ask him
to fill in the form my bank sent him and return it, otherwise we are at a standstill! Really looking forward to meeting you one of these days, Mrs Abacha!

Yours,

Ron Vibbentrop

Mail 20: The lawyer returns the forms to the banker...

Date: Wed, 8 Sep 2004 08:14:45 -0700 (PDT)
From: "GANI FAWEHINME" <ganifawehinme@>
Subject: ATTACHMENTS
To: castekort@

ATTENTION:Cas te Kort, Ph.D,

ATTACHED ARE THE INFORMATIONS YOU NEEDED FROM ME.PLEASE TREAT AS URGENT.

THANK YOU

BARRISTER GANI FAWEHINME ESQ

Mail 21: The lawyer tells Ron to get on with it...

Date: Wed, 8 Sep 2004 08:21:38 -0700 (PDT)
From: "GANI FAWEHINME" <ganifawehinme@>
Subject: PLEASE ACT FAST (DELAY IS DANGEROUS) [Oh really? Let's see how much more delay you can stand...]
To: ronvibbentrop

ATTENTION:RON

ATTACHED IS THE INFORMATIONS WHICH I HAVE SENT TO YOUR BANK AS YOU ADVICED ME TO DO.SO PLEASE YOU ARE ADVICED TI INSTRUCT THE BANK FOR THE RELEASE OF THE FEE SO THAT I CAN COMMENCE TO THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT TOMMORROW MORNING TO PAY TO THE COMMISSIONER OF OATH TO ENABLE HIM SIGN THE CERTIFICATE (AFFIDAVIT OF CLAIM) AND APROVE IT TO YOU SO THAT I CAN SEND TO YOU IMMEDIATELLY WITH THE CONTACT OF THE SECURITY COMPANY WHICH YOU WILL GO FOR THE CLAIM OF THE CONSIGNMENT.

REGARDS

BARRISTER GANI FAWEHINME ESQ

I loved this. All you have to do is Google on 'Questionnaire', pick out some questionnaire of your liking and add them to your bank form. Gani Fawehinme filled in two nice ones: A Mood Disorder questionnaire (looks to me he may suffer from a bipolar disorder) and a Values at Work questionnaire. He's not happy, that's clear...

Mail 22: The banker disapproves of the form...

Date: Wed, 8 Sep 2004 14:05:47 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Cas te Kort" <castekort@>
Subject: Re: ATTACHMENTS
To: "GANI FAWEHINME" <ganifawehinme@>

Dear Barrister Gani Fawehinme,

Thank you for your information, which was duly received. Unfortunately you omitted to answer the following question:

5. Would you prefer an ASEM-transfer or a quims-procedure? (Note: if the amount exceeds USD 1.000 an ASEM-transfer is preferred!) [I pinched the name 'quims-procedure' from the Lady Agatha Bristol-team on Scamorama.com. I like the sound of it...] Please let us know your answer, so we can transfer the money to you desginated bank account.

Mail 23: The lawyer wants his money. Now.

Date: Thu, 9 Sep 2004 01:08:31 -0700 (PDT)
From: "GANI FAWEHINME" <ganifawehinme@>
Subject: DELAY IS NOT IN FAVOUR OF THIS TRANSACTION
To: "Cas te Kort" <castekort@>

ATTENTION:CAS TE KORT

THANKS FOR YOUR EFFORT IN THIS TRANSACTION!YOU SHOULD KNOW THE ONE THAT WILL BE PREFERABLE AND FASTER FROM THE TWO (ASEM-transfer or quims-procedure)TO ENABLE ME GET THIS VITAL DOCUMENT AND SEND TO RON THIS WEEK.SO THAT BY NEXT WEEK,THIS TRANSACTION WILL BE COMPLETED.

THIS AGAIN IS MY ACCOUNT BELOW

BANKERS TRUST NEW YORK
280 PARK AVENUE, NEW YORK,NY 10017
SWIFT CODE: BKTRUS33
ABA #: 021001033
A/C #: 04176580
A/C BON LTD
A/C #: 02/600173
BEN: AGRO GEMS COMMODITIES

REGARDS AND THANK YOU

BARRISTER GANI FAWEHINME ESQ

Mail 24: Omar Abacha is very happy. Don't know what for, but never mind...

From: "omar abacha" <omarabacha@hotmail.com>
To: ronvibbentrop
Subject: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
Date: Thu, 09 Sep 2004 10:46:59 +0100

MY DEAR BROTHER RON,

THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORT SO FAR. I AM NOT OPPORTUNE TO INTERNET WHERE I WILL SEND YOU AN EMAIL. BECAUSE WHERE I AM NOW IS A REFUGEE CAMP, SO I FIND IT VERY DIFFICULT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU.

I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE HELP THAT YOU HAVE BEEN REDERING TO MY MOTHER AND MOST ESPECIALLY MY MUM. MY DAD IS DEAD AND YOU ARE JUST LIKE A DAD TO ME OUT THERE, I KNOW THAT YOU WILL DO ANYTHING POSSIBLE TO SAVE OUR FAMILY BECAUSE WHERE I AM NOW I AM NOT COMFORTABLE. I WILL ALWAYS PUT IT IN PRAYER AND I DO PUT YOU IN PRAYER AND GOD WILL ALWAYS BLESS YOU AND YOU’RE FAMILY.
I HAVE KNOWN YOU IN PERSON BUT ONE DAY WE WILL MEET VERY SOON. AS I AM MAILIMG YOU NOW I WILL ALSO SEND AN EMAIL TO MY MUM TO LET HER KNOW HOW FAR YOU HAVE GONE WITH THE LAWYER. [I'll take him a lot further. Up his own garden path, that is...]

THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS.

YOUR DEAR SON
OMAR ABACHA

Mail 25: The lawyer is in for more red tape...

Date: Thu, 9 Sep 2004 13:01:09 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Cas te Kort" <castekort@>
Subject: Quims-procedure
To: "GANI FAWEHINME" <ganifawehinme@>

Dear Mr Gani Fawehinme,

Leaving the choice to me, I would advise you to follow the quims-procedure to receive the funds. The ASEM-procedure involves your travelling to Rottumerplaat, but in view of the amount concerned that would harldy seem worthwhile. The quims-procedure is by far the easiest. I attach the official document describing the quims-procedure. Please send your confirmation and photograph to me.

Cas te Kort

The form describing the 'quims-procedure'. The statue is not Toon Ladder as you may have guessed, but Columbus' monument in Santo Domingo. (I sent this to him as a huge PDF-file...)

Mail 26: The lawyer starts to foam at the mouth

(And his CAPS LOCK is still stuck...]

To: ronvibbentrop
From: "GANI FAWEHINME" <ganifawehinme@justice.com>
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE
Date: Fri, 10 Sep 2004 01:08:46 -0700 (PDT)

ATTENTION:RON

WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON IN THIS TRANSACTION?I DO NOT UNDERSTAND!YOUR BANK SENT A FORM TO ME AND ASKED ME TO FILL BEFORE THEY WILL SEND THE FEE,WHICH I HAVE FILLED AND UPTILL NOW THEY HAVE NOT SENT THE FEE.AND I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM YOU,NOW THEY ASKED ME TO SEND MY PICTURE WHICH I HAVE SENT TO THEM MY INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT.

I DO NOT REALLY KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON?PLEASE IF YOU ARE NOIT READY FOR THIS TRANSACTION,LET ME KNOW!BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW IF I AM DEALING WITH YOU OR YOUR BANK.THE QUESTION IS TOO MUCH.REALIZE WHAT I TOLD YOU FROM THE BEGINGIN THAT YOU SHOULD KEEP EVERYTHING SECRET BECAUSE THIS WOMAN IS ON HOUSE ARREST HERE.YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO KEEP THIS TRANSACTION SECRET UNTILL YOU HAVE CLAIMED THE CONSIGNMENT AND THIS WOMAN HAS LEFT HERE TO YOUR COUNTRY TO MEET WITH YOU.

I AM SUPPOSE TO BE IN THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT THIS WEEK TO PAY THE COMMISIONER OF OATH TO ENABLE HIM SIGN THE DOCUMENTS AND APROVE TO YOU.THERE WILL BE A TIME THE COURT WILL WAIT FOR ME AND I DO NOT MEET UP WITH THEM,IT WILL BE AS THOUGH I DO NOT KNOW WHAT I AM DOING.PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE NOT READY FOR THIS TRANSACTION,THAN ME WASTING MY TIME.

REGARDS

BARRISTER GANI FAWEHINME ESQ

Mail 27: The lawyer doesn't like the procedure...

Date: Fri, 10 Sep 2004 00:52:44 -0700 (PDT)
From: "GANI FAWEHINME" <ganifawehinme@>
Subject: DELAY IS DANGEROUS
To: "Cas te Kort" <castekort@>

ATTENTION:CAS TE KORT

I AM IN RECEIPT OF YOUR MAIL!ATTACHED IS MY INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT AS YOU HAVE REQUESTED!YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND USE THE QUIM PROCEDURE HENCE YOU KNOW IT IS THE EASIEST AND I CAN RECEIVE THE FEE HERE.

AT THE SAME TIME ALL THIS DELAYING IS TAKING TOO LONG,

PLEASE SEND ME THE PAYMENT SLIP AS SOON AS YOU HAVE SENT THE FEE TO MY BANK ACCOUNT WHICH I SENT TO YOU.

REGARDS

BARRISTER GANI FAWEHINME ESQ

[He sent another copy of 'his' passport]

Mail 28: Ron is nasty: he tells on Mrs Abacha about the lawyer...

Date: Fri, 10 Sep 2004 09:32:35 +0100 (BST)
From: "Ron Vibbentrop" <ronvibbentrop>
Subject: Update
To: omarabacha@hotmail.com

Dear Mrs Abacha,

I'm sorry to say that your lawyer is not very cooperative in this project. I had a talk with my banker the other day. My banker, Mr Cas te Kort, is ready to transfer 3.500 euros to help you out with the paperwork. But the lawyer seems to be very reluctant to comply with the Rules of Revolutionary Banking of Rottumerplaat. Let me assure you, it's not an easy matter getting any sum larger that 500 euros out of our country. Could you please talk this over with your lawyer and make sure he fills in the right forms and files the proper documents and photographs?

I'm really sorry about all this delay and disturbance your lawyer causes, I'm really eager to help you!

Yours,

=====
Ron Vibbentrop MA

Mail 29: Ron makes things clear to the lawyer...

Date: Fri, 10 Sep 2004 09:36:46 +0100 (BST)
From: "Ron Vibbentrop" <ronvibbentrop>
Subject: Re: URGENT RESPONSE
To: "GANI FAWEHINME" <ganifawehinme@justice.com>

Dear Gani Fawehinme,

I'm really willing to send you the money on Mrs. Abacha's behalf, but Cas te Kort, my banker, assures me that you will have to file all the proper documents first. It seems that you have chosen a quims-procedure. Well, it shouldn't be that difficult to swear loyalty to our revolutionary leader Toon Ladder, so I don't know what you are whining about.
This is simply the way things work over here. No quims-declaration, no money, it's as easy as that.

Yours,

=====
Ron Vibbentrop MA

Mail 30: Ron plays a trump card...

Date: Fri, 10 Sep 2004 09:39:17 +0100 (BST)
From: "Ron Vibbentrop" <ronvibbentrop>
Subject: Re: URGENT RESPONSE
To: "GANI FAWEHINME" <ganifawehinme@justice.com>

And come to think of it, I still haven't received the trust agreement signed by Mrs Abacha. Without an agreement I won't pay you anything, and I'll inform banker Cas te Kort about this. It's me who is helping you and Mrs Abacha, not the other way round. This is not child's play, you see. [Oh yes it is. On my part, that is...]

=====
Ron Vibbentrop MA

Mail 31: Omar Abacha is glad...

From: "omar abacha" <omarabacha@hotmail.com>
To: ronvibbentrop
Subject: I AM GLAD.
Date: Sat, 11 Sep 2004 18:27:47 +0100

Dear Ron,

i am glad that you open up to me and you stress you willingness to assist me and my family from this delinma that we are in.

i will tell my to talk to that attorney as you said but please i will like you to put in your best to make sure that this consignment get to your hand at once and please for thye sack of God i will like you to keep it in a safer place and allso let it be confidential becuase this is our last hope.

this is omar abacha mailing you from south africa in exile and will like you
to please try your best again.
i am very happy for your effort so far.

regards,
Omar Abacha

Mail 31: Maryam wants to sign the agreement

(Great. This, as the saying is in Dutch, gave me another stick to beat the dog...) Date: Mon, 13 Sep 2004 02:56:12 -0700 (PDT)
From: "maryam abacha" <mrs_maryam_abacha48@>
Subject: URGENT
To: ronvibbentrop

My dear brother Ron,

How are you today? I hope you are doing fine. Please i will like you to send to me the TRUST AGREEMENT for me to sign it and send it back to you. Send to me as soon as you get this mail.

always your sister
Dr.Mrs.Maryam Abacha

Mail 32: Maryam really wants that agreement

Date: Mon, 13 Sep 2004 08:33:17 -0700 (PDT)
From: "maryam abacha" <mrs_maryam_abacha48@>
Subject: SEND IT IMMEDIATELY FROM MARYAM ABACHA
To: ronvibbentrop

MY DEAR BROTHER,

I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOUR MAIL AND THE TRUST AGREEMENT FOR ME TO SIGN.BUT TILL NOW I HAVE GOT ANY EMAIL FROM YOU, I HOPE ALL IS WELL.PLEASE SEND IT IMMEDIATELY.

REGARDS,
DR.MRS.MARYAM ABACHA

Mail 33: Maryam, your lawyer's no good

Date: Mon, 13 Sep 2004 18:38:37 +0100 (BST)
From: "Ron Vibbentrop" <ronvibbentrop>
Subject: Agreement as sent to Mr. Fawehinme
To: mrs_maryam_abacha48@

Dear Mrs Abacha,

Thanks for your mail. I do not quite understand why you haven't received the agreement. As you can see I sent the agreement by mail to Gani Fawehinme on September 5th. He never bothered to have it signed by you and to return the contract to me.

Anyway, I attach the email which I sent to your lawyer, with the agreement attached. May I advise you to get another lawyer? Mr. Fawehinme asked me to help with a small payment in order to get the paperwork done. Of course I'm quite willing to pay; it's an amout of some 3500 euros I think. I asked my banker, Cas te Kort, to arrange this payment.

Sending money from the Autonomous Autarkic Socialist Republic of Rottumerplaat is not an easy matter; there are many formalities. Cas te Kort, who is also a personal friend of mine, assures me that Mr Fawehinme is late filling in the neccesary forms and he seems to be completely unwilling to take the necessary steps in the quims-procedure, without which he cannot send the money.

And now it turns out he never even gave you the agreement to sign! Please, I do want to help you Mrs Abacha, but Mr Fawehinme is fa from cooperative!

Yours,

Ron Vibbentrop

Note: forwarded message attached. [I added the mail I sent to the lawyer on 5 September...]

Mail 34: Maryam is sorry

Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2004 11:14:38 -0700 (PDT)
From: "maryam abacha" <mrs_maryam_abacha48@>
Subject: CHECK THE ATTACHMENT
To: "Ron Vibbentrop" <ronvibbentrop>

my dear brother,

I am very sorry for what the attorney did as regards this transaction. I want to let you know that I have cautioned him seriously. This attorney has been a family lawyer for years before the dead of my late husband and as a result what I did was to talk to him, he has agreed to do all his best regards this transaction.

I am sending the signed documents to you via attachment.

As soon as you get this attachment mail me back.

Regards,

Dr.Mrs.Maryam Abacha

[Sure enough she returned a shoddy B/W copy of the agreement, but signed all right this time. See previous picture for the agreement...]

Mail 35: Ron is glad about the agreement...

Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2004 21:58:12 +0100 (BST)
From: "Ron Vibbentrop" <ronvibbentrop>
Subject: Thank you.
To: "maryam abacha" <mrs_maryam_abacha48@>

Dear Mrs Abacha,

Thank you for your help and for the signed agreement. This really reassured me about this whole project.

I have instructed my banker, Cas te Kort, to send the money to your lawyer. Providing the lawyer meets the requirements made by the Rules of Revolutionary Banking of our country, which I'm sure Mr. Fawehinme will be glad to do. My banker will be in touch with him presently. I'm sure we'll be able to finish this within a couple of days!

Ron Vibbentrop

Mail 36: The banker patiently explains again...

Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2004 14:04:30 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Cas te Kort" <castekort@>
Subject: Please send the rquired documents
To: "GANI FAWEHINME" <ganifawehinme@>

Dear Mr. Gani Fawehinme,

My client and personal friend Ron Vibbentrop got rather cross with you, so I gathered from him, as he realised that you had omitted to return the agreement as signed by Mrs Abacha.

Anyway, he told me today to send you the money. I sent you a copy of the quims-procedure, which is part of the Rules of Revolutionary Banking in our country. I'm sure you'll be willing to meet the requirements as set out in the document I sent you. Immeditely after receiving the required documents I'll be able to tranfer the money (3500 euros) to your account.

I look forward to hearing from you.

=====
Cas te Kort, Ph.D

Mail 37: The lawyer is at a loss now...

Date: Wed, 15 Sep 2004 01:10:56 -0700 (PDT)
From: "GANI FAWEHINME" <ganifawehinme@>
Subject: URGENT MESSAGE
To: "Cas te Kort" <castekort@>

Attention:Cas te Kort

I am in receipt of your mail!sequence to your mail,i do not understand the document you are asking me to send to you and the requirements.please put me through and all this procedure is becoming too much for me.After filling the form i sent to you,you adviced me to use the quims procedure which you said it is the easiest.and hence i can receivce it here so i accepted to use the quims procedure.

Let me know what you mean by the documents to send to you again,because i do not understand.i beleive maryam must have sent to you the trust agreement to you.

The documents that i am suppose to collect which will be aproved and sign by the commisioner of oath and sent to Ron will not be aproved unless i pay his fee complete,before the documents will be given to me so that i can send to Ron to enable him start going to the security company in europe for the claim of the consignment.

Regards

Barrister Gani Fawehinme esq

Mail 38: The banker remains friendly and polite...

Date: Wed, 15 Sep 2004 10:39:23 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Cas te Kort" <castekort@>
Subject: Re: URGENT MESSAGE
To: "GANI FAWEHINME" <ganifawehinme@>

Dear Gani Fahwehinme,

This is excellent news indeed. Ron Vibbentrop has indeed received the agreement signed by Mrs Abacha, so that has given him enough confidence to go on. He asked me to send the money (3500 euros) to you.

As I have pointed out before, transferring money from the Republieck Rottumerplaat is not an easy matter. The quims-procedure was devised several years ago. The Ministerie van Ecomonische Zaken here wants to make sure about the loyalty and trustworthiness of foreigners who stand to receive substantial amounts of money from citizens of our republick. The procedure was the result of the sad affair which has since become known as the 'Doove Balg'-affair. In this affair a Rottumerplaat citizen was robbed of a substantial amount by so-called 'scammers'. I will not go into the details here, but it certainly roused the suspicion of our government. [But will this arouse your suspicion? Ah well no it won't. Your shoesize is bigger than your IQ, isn't it?]

To avoid this sort of sad affair happening a second time, we ask foreign recepients of money write an hand-written document, in which he/she swears loyalty to our president, in the following words: "I, [full name], of [place, country], hereby swear heartfelt loyalty to Toon Ladder, leader of the 1962 revolution, leader of the greatest nation in the world: the Autonomous Autarkic Republic of Rottumerplaat. I swear to adhere to the Revolutionary Regulations of Rottumerplaat." We also ask them to have their photo taken of themselves in as close a positon as that of our famous Toon Ladder monument; I enclose a photo of it for your information. All this information is also included in the document which I sent to you earlier.

We are convinced that people who want to do an honest trade with Rottumerplaat citizens will not hesitate to comply with these simple requests. The ministry actually receives dozens and dozens of quims-documents daily. We are sure that 'scammers' will never swear loyalty to our president. So far the quims-procedure has succeeded in avoiding all attempts at scamming in our country. You should realise that our country is different from many other countries. For instance, we are not, unlike your country, a democracy, but we are ruled by President Toon Ladder and his party, the Democratic People's Front of Rottumerplaat.

I look forward to receiving your document and photo; you may send them by email as an attachment to me. As soon as I receive these documents I will send the money to you by telegraphic transfer, so you'll be able to collect the documents from the commisioner of oaths. I can see that transferring things from you country isn't easy either; quite a lot of red tape to go through, and it's very much the same here!

Yours sincerely,
=====
Cas te Kort, Ph.D

Mail 39: Maryam, your lawyer still is no good!...

Date: Fri, 17 Sep 2004 16:49:34 +0100 (BST)
From: "Ron Vibbentrop" <ronvibbentrop>
Subject: Just a word from Ron
To: "maryam abacha" <mrs_maryam_abacha48@>

Dear Mrs Abacha,

Just letting you know that things are moving over here. I've made considerable progress with my car that will run on tap water and I'm sure I'll be able to carry out preliminary tests this weekend. [These 'tests' will eventually, I hope, allow me to make them believe that water burns...] It's all very exiting, I can tell you!

Cas te Kort, my banker, told me that he is rady to pay a substantial amount in my name to help Mr Fani Gawehinme getting some documents from the high court; but your lawyer apparently is still slow submitting the proper documents to the bank, so the payment cannot be effected. That is ashame. We need these documents, and now Mr Gawehinme still is not cooperating. Please tell Mr Gawehinme that he is slowing things down without need. I really wish to help you, Mrs Abacha, but apparently this barrister of yours is not very helpful.

I hope to hear from you!

=====
Ron Vibbentrop MA

Mail 40: Maryam is worried...

Date: Mon, 20 Sep 2004 03:26:52 -0700 (PDT)
From: "maryam abacha" <mrs_maryam_abacha48@>
Subject: PLEASE REPLY
To: "Ron Vibbentrop" <ronvibbentrop>

My Dear Ron Vibbentrop,

Please let me know the documents which you want the lawyer to send to you.

Regards

Mrs.Maryam Abacha

Mail 41: The banker will tell more...

Date: Mon, 20 Sep 2004 19:04:51 +0100 (BST)
From: "Ron Vibbentrop" <ronvibbentrop>
Subject: Re: PLEASE REPLY
To: "maryam abacha" <mrs_maryam_abacha48@>

My dear Maryam,

I will ask my banker, Mr Cas te Kort, to inform you about the documents he requires. I'm really sorry about all these delays!
The first test with my new car went marvellously last weekend! You should have seen it!

Yours,

Ron

Mail 42: The lawyer nearly starts to cry now...

Date: Fri, 17 Sep 2004 01:49:59 -0700 (PDT)
From: "GANI FAWEHINME" <ganifawehinme@>
Subject: URGENT MESSAGE
To: "Cas te Kort" <castekort@>

"I, BARRISTER GANI FAWEHINME ESQ, of LAGOS,NIGERIA], hereby swear heartfelt loyalty to Toon Ladder, leader of the 1962 revolution,leader of the greatest nation in the world: theAutonomous Autarkic Republic of Rottumerplaat. I swear to adhere to the Revolutionary Regulations of Rottumerplaat."

ATTENTION:CAS

ATTACHED IS MY INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT!I HAVE SENT THIS ALREADY TO RON AND I BELEIVE THIS WILL CONVINCE YOU.IF ATALL THAT YOU PEOPLE ARE RAEDY FOR THIS TRANSACTION I DO NOT SEE REASON WHY YOU ARE PUSHING ME UP AND DOWN.PLEASE COME OUT OPEN AND SPEAK YOUR MIND.

REGARDS

BARRISTER GANI FAWEHINME ESQ
[He added another copy of his passport...]

Mail 43: Of course this attempt was no good at all....

Date: Fri, 17 Sep 2004 08:39:20 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Cas te Kort" <castekort@>
Subject: Re: URGENT MESSAGE
To: "GANI FAWEHINME" <ganifawehinme@>

My dear Gani Fawehinme,

I really do not know what got you so upset. I appreciate your willingness to take the quims-procedure, but this attempt you sent me will never be approved by the Ministry. In your name I will have to submit to the Ministry your handwritten document and a photo as specified. In my previous email I have quite clearly explained to you why this procedure is adhered to in my country. We do expressly not ask for passports: apparently they can be tampered with although I wouldn't know how.

By the way, did I tell you that submitting your documents to the ministry will actually cost me a neat 500 euros? I never asked *you* to pay this money to me in advance, I just don't understand why you're complaining.

Ron Vibbentrop is resolved to help Mrs Abacha, and I'm quite willing to help him, but in this manner we're not getting anywhere. I regret that you're feeling 'being pushed up and down' but let me assure you that this is often the case with people who are not conversant with the rules and regulations of our great republic. But let me assure you: once the proper quims-documents have been received I can send you the amount of 3500 euros.

I await your response,

=====
Cas te Kort, Ph.D

Mail 44: Maryam learns about Rottumerplaat banking...

Date: Mon, 20 Sep 2004 11:11:04 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Cas te Kort" <castekort@>
Subject: Fwd: Quims-procedure
To: mrs_maryam_abacha48@

Dear Mrs Abacha,

My client and personal friend Ron Vibbentrop asked me to inform you about the documents required to be able to send a substantial amount abroad from our country. I attach the email which I sent on this subject to your lawyer. As you can see from the documents attached, all he needs to do is to send a handwritten document and a photograph proving his loyalty to our leader, president Toon Ladder. So far he has not complied with this request. I certainly hope you can help.
Yours sincerely,

Cas te Kort
Note: forwarded message attached.
[Added the huge pdf-form again...]

[Strange, after this they went quiet. Time for stronger measures...]

Mail 45: Enter Ron's own lawyer, Z. Wendel...

Date: Sat, 25 Sep 2004 12:51:04 +0100 (BST)
From: "Zacharias Wendel" <zwendelenblunders@>
Subject: Mr Ron Vibbentrop / Mrs Maryam Abacha
To: mrs_maryam_abacha48@, ganifawehinme@justice.com

Dear Mrs Abacha, Mr Gani Fawehinme.

Re.: Ron Vibbentrop / Maryam Abacha

My name is Zacharias Wendel, of Messrs Zwendel en Blunders, lawyers. I am an attorney-at-law in the Republieck Rottumerplaat. My client, Mr Ron Vibbentrop, asked my assistance about the following. Mrs. Mariam Abacha and Mr Ron Vibbentrop have reached an agreement on September 4th about the transfer of a considerable amount of money, 25 million dollars. There is a legally binding agreement between Mr Vibbentrop and Mrs Abacha about this transfer . I would like to draw your attention to this contract, which states as follows: "THIS AGRREMENT IS LEGALLY BINDING, IRREVOCABLE AND SIGNED BY THE TWO PARTIES FOR THE PROTECTION OF THEIR MUTUAL INTEREST IN THE TRANSACTION."

Mr. Vibbentrop informed me, as his lawyer, about this whole affair and has given me full power of attorney to act on his behalf. It appears that Mr Vibbentrop and his banker, Mr Cas te Kort, have so far cooperated in full to carry out the contract, and have even agreed to pay an advance fee of some 3500 euros to Mr Gani Fawehinme to expedite the transaction. However, Mr Fawehinme has so far failed to meet the requirements set by the Rottumerplaat Rules of Revolutionary Banking, viz. he has so far failed in to submit the documents required by the "quims-procedure", thus seriously jeopardizing the entire project, by which not only Mr Vibbentrop, but especially Mrs Abacha would greatly have profited.

As Mr Vibbentrop's lawyer I expect an explanation for Mr. Fawehinme's behaviour in this project, and demand that he meet the requirements of the quims-procedure withing five working days from now, so that the contract between Mr Vibbentrop and Mrs Abacha can be carried out in full . If he fails to do so, I will not hesitate to take legal action against both Mr Fawehinme and Mrs Abacha.

I trust to have informed you in full and remain,

=====
Zwendel en Blunders
Advocaten en procureurs
Geldweg 98
1012 DG Saaftinge
Republieck Rottumerplaat

Mail 46: Surprisingly, Mrs Abacha still hasn't a clue about what's really going on...

And hey presto, look what's happened to her CAPS LOCk key...

Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2004 14:13:30 -0700 (PDT)
From: "maryam abacha" <mrs_maryam_abacha48@yahoo.com>
Subject: URGENT MESSAGE
To: "Ron Vibbentrop" <ronvibbentrop>

DEAR RON,

I AM VERY SUPPRISE WHEN I SAW A MAIL FROM YOUR ATTORNEY YESTERDAY EVENING. I REALLY WANT TOKNOE WHAT YOU ARE UPTO AFTER WE HAVE AGREED TO DO THIS TRANSACTION TOGETHER.

I REALLY DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU MEAN BY SNAPING A PICTURE AS IN THE DOCUMENT YOU SENT TO ME,PLEASE KINDLY EXPLAIN IN DETAILS. MY ATTORNEY TOLD ME THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS KIND OF FUND TRANFER PROCEDURE IN HIS LIFE BEFORE, SO IF YOU KNOW ANY MEANS OF SENDING HIM THE MONEY PLEASE AS TIME IS NOT ON OURSIDE.

I NEED THIS TRANSACTION TO BE DONE BY YOU AND I ONLY AND NOT INVOLVING PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES BECAUSE IF NY GOVERNMENT FIND OUT THEY WILL FREEZ THIS FUND FROM GETTING TO ME.

RON, PLEASE I WILL LIKE YOU TO KEEP THIS TRANSACTION AS SECRETE AS I ALWAYS WANTED.

REGARDS,
MARYAM ABACHA

Mail 47: Ron explains again...

Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2004 19:26:44 +0100 (BST)
From: "Ron Vibbentrop" <ronvibbentrop@> View Contact Details
Subject: Re: URGENT MESSAGE
To: "maryam abacha" <mrs_maryam_abacha48@yahoo.com>

Dear Maryam,

I had to go to my lawyer. It was the last resort. This Mr Fani Gawehinme or whatever his name is simply refuses to cooperate. Without the proper documents my banker can't pay your lawyer the money needed to get the documents and all is at a standstill. All we are waiting for is Mr Fanehinme's photo and a handwritten declaration. They are required by law here.

Is that too much to ask, seeing that I'm willing to pay you so much in advance for this project? Anyway I'll ask my lawyer to explain things to you.

Yours as ever,

Ron

Mail 48: And Z. Wendel, Ron's lawyer, explains again...

Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2004 19:51:52 +0100 (BST)
From: "Zacharias Wendel" <zwendelenblunders@> Add to Address Book
Subject: Your mail to Ron Vibbentrop
To: mrs_maryam_abacha48@yahoo.com

Dear Mrs Abacha,

My client Ron Vibbentrop forwarded your email to me and asked me to explain things to you. I hope you will be able to instruct Mr. Fawehinme about this. Let me explain things. By the way, lawyers here are (by law) obliged to keep complete secrecy about these matters, so that is why Mr Ron Vibbentrop entrusted me with this matter.

As Mr Cas te Kort, local banker here, explained to Mr Fawehinme, when transferring money out of the Autonomous Autarkic Socialist Republic of Rottumerplaat the recepient is required to swear loyalty to our President and Leader of the Revolution, Toon Ladder. Submitting a handwritten document, the text of which you and Mr Fawehinme are well aware of, does this. For security reasons a photo is needed in which the recepient imitates the position of our beloved leader, as depicted in the famous monument of the Revolution in which Toon Ladder leads his troops to victory. This is quite a normal procedure here, with which we show our unflagging belief in the revolution. All inhabitants of Rottumerplaat have to have this photo taken once every two years. Actually we prefer to have this done with the Monument in the backgroud (although there is no actual need to be photographed with the monument, but we do this out of loyalty to our Leader.). I enclose a copy of my own personal photo, to give you an idea of what our Secret Service actually requires. You'll see the monument in the background.

To explain the whole thing again what has to be done now:
1. Mr Fawehinme sends photo and handwritten document (quims-procedure) to the banker, Mr Cas te Kort
2. Mr Cas te Kort pays 3500 euros into Mr Fawehinme's bank account.
3. Mr Fawehinme pays High Commissioner of Oath's fee.
4. Mr Fawehinme gets the documents.
5. With these documents the trunk box can be taken from the security company.

In my opinion it's as simple as that, but all we are waiting for now is Mr Fawehinme.

Mr Ron Vibbentrop, who is not skilled in legal matters, asked me for my assistance, as he did not see any other way out to get things moving. I'm sure you will inform Mr Fawehinme, and Mr Fawehinme will cooperate. There is quite a lot at stake here and we cannot afford to let this project grind to a halt, can we?

I hope to have served you in this matter and remain,

Yours sincerely,

=====
Zwendel en Blunders

Let me assure you Google is your friend. This holiday picture (from Chicago) is just what I wanted...

But unfortunately, after this Abacha and Fawehinme got fed up with it and refused to play with me any more... I sent them a nice insult but they didn't reply any more.