$20M from Mr Wammanga

Since December, the elderley Gerald Denton has been in communication with Mr DOGOOD WAMMANGA, manager at the Nigerian Central Bank, in connection with a payment of $20M. The reason for the payment is unclear, the most likely explanation being something to do with a deceased distant relative.

To establish his credentials, Mr WAMMANGA has sent Gerald a copy of his official identity card. Although the existence of such a card would, for most people, lay any suspicions to rest, Gerald has also recieved a copy of the official government issued Clearance Certificate, with a red seal, thus further establishing the bone fides of the proposed payment.

The only obstacle between Gerald and his $20M is a fee of £450 payable to the Ministry of Finance.

All concerned assumed such a minor payment would be trivial to make, but this has not proven to be the case. Gerald's initial attempt to pay into a bank account, using details Mr WAMMANGA provided, was frustrated by his bank unhelpfully directing him to a Transaction Denied page. WAMMANGA couldn't be persuaded to provide a second bank account, so Gerald then tried to pay via Moneygram. However, the Moneygram telephone service, supposed to provide the required code, didn't recognize all WAMMANGA's responses and despite several calls, the money couldn't be collected. Next, at WAMMANGA's suggestion, Gerald looked for a suitable gift card. Gerald sent WAMMANGA several photos of the extensive gift card selection in his local store, but none were acceptable. Gerald's more mobile pal Leonard even went looking further afield but came back empty handed. Leonard's easily confused but might have located the correct product had WAMMANGA not declined Gerald's suggestion that he phone Leonard to explain what's required.

Now, an idea occured to Gerald that he really should have thought of before. He's on friendly terms with the nurse Sister Smith, Medical Bursar at his care centre, who orders the medical supplies and settles the invoices. She deals with money all the time and certainly knows how to pay bills.

Disregarding WAMMANGA's instruction that the matter must be kept secret, Gerald mails Sister Smith, asking for her help, including a large part of the thread between himself and WAMMANGA as he does so.

Sister Smith replies to Gerald with cc to WAMMANGA

My friend WAMMANGA.

My business associate SS, has sent your details on to me, in connection with a potential money making opportunity.

Obviously SS cannot use their real address or directly conduct business herself.

First things first. We know you're a fuckwit 419 scammer and you are trying to rob the old idiot Denton. Don't try to deny it. You know and we know. We have seen the mails you and Denton have exchanged.

However, there is money to be made here. £450 is nothing. The fool Denton is wealthy, he has recently sold his business and owns several properties in London, one of them occupied by his daughter. You probably won't know this, but in response to the pandemic, the Care Center is planning to part fund medical facilities in a couple of badly affected poorer regions of the world. Denton plans to donate to this project and he's also on the comittee that will be choosing suitable recipients.

Now my boy, the question is, what intellectual capacity do you have? Can you see the potential? The funding would be to initially set up an office with a salaried Manager actually resident at the chosen location. Denton is on the comittee that will choose the Manager and through whom funding would be distributed. Further funding would follow if we played our cards right.

This will be quite a difficult operation requiring you to understand and accurately follow instructions with critical timing at certain stages. We would, of course, need to form an opinion as to your suitability, in relation to these matters, to be part of our team.

Are you interested?

Perhaps I should mention that we are able to monitor Denton's mail account, so don't try anything clever.

Crow

Mr Crow

Since we do not know you, and it would ne do Mr Denton any good to have his payment exposed to many people hence he has not todk us about you, so do not interfere in this this case, as it might act against the payment.

So let Mr Denton introduce you to me, and also note that your message might act againt the payment, so you have to be careful about this payment.

Regards,
Dogood Wammanga

So that's it so far. About 200 mails into the relationship with the scammer.

Seems there's a possible opening for entertainment. I'd like suggestions on how to carry things forward. As you can see, I've copied to some extent the opening idea of the inspiring Nigerian Parish thread, but it's funding a medical outreach project, not a church.