Another one to watch out for . . .
Don't fall for the newest scam "Winner Nigerian Poetry Contest"
I send work to poetry contests more than I should. When this arrived in my in-box it took my husband some time to convince me it wasn't real. I so wanted it to be real. Talk about preying on the vulnerable. Please, if you're a poet, don't be suckered by this cruel ploy.
From: luismrj_ames@yahoo.co.j
To: Nikki Schulak <nschulak@yahoo.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 9:52:35 PM
Subject: Winner Nigerian Poetry Contest
Dear Nicole Schulak,
Attention: This letter is written to you in order to change your life from today. I am Mr. James Luis, Director, International Nigerian Journals of Literature and Poetry. My Boss, Mr. Jacobs M. Ajekigbe, the Managing Director/CEO is now on compulsory leave and all powers have been vested on me to make all decisions regarding manuscript acquisitions and distribution of prize monies. Also, due to reported cases of corrupt practices in many other Nigerian Literary Journals including the Central Literary Journal of Nigeria, the Federal Government has revoked/canceled all power vested on those Journals and have appointed the Journal "Coup d'état Press" to make all foreign payments. You have not been aware perhaps that your winning submissions have been in our acquisition department for many years unpublished. Worse, my boss Mr. Jacobs Ajekigbe have refused to tell you the truth on how to claim your prize and reputation as a worldwide sensation. This is because he has been using the literary interest accumulated from your highly commended poems every year to enrich himself without your knowledge. Your prize monies now has now accumulated to over $500,000 and the right to standard book publishing contract with royalties paid. I don't mind to say your work is accessible and your emotion is always evoked.
I want to help you put your rightful publications into our Journal and your prize to Your Bank account using the easiest and the quickest method, which have not been made known to you before. The prize includes also an introduction by me, Mr. James Luis, Director, and distribution in a chapbook of your very many stunned winning poems by Coup d'état Press. Please, by this method I will teach you, you will open a domiciliary account with the First Bank of Nigeria. Your prize would be lodged into this disciplinary account and your fund will be paid in directly to any Bank of Your Choice. After the transfer, you will confirm the monies in your Bank account within 5 hours the same day. There will be No Cost of Transfer (COT) and no stoppage from any Government departments as the transfer will be done within the bank alone and it is very safe.
As a good Christian, I have nothing to gain by keeping your rightly earned prize or by keeping your manuscripts a secret any longer. I want to assist you receive your fund and notoriety before my boss resumes office. Your work will be published to international acclaim and you will become famous and even more rich! You have to follow up and work with me now, so keep this very confidential because of fraudsters and impostors who go about presenting various Nigerian literary journal contests.
Confirm to me through this e-mail address,:(luismrj_ames@yahoo.co.jp) your present/valid account co-ordinates and Amount to be Claimed so that I do not transfer your fund to the wrong Bank Account.
Awaiting your quick response.
Yours Truly,
Mr. James Luis, Director.