GRACE VENTURES LIMITED No.165 Jubile Road, Aba Abia- state, Nigeria.

Grace Ventures says: "YOU WILL RECEIVE THIS PAYMENT IN FULL BEFORE SHIPMENT BEGIN"
	Hello, I am Miss Young. I received this story from a friend. Let me call her Fanny. It started with a purchase order to her company. Let me call them Downundercomm. The story also involves the scammer Milton Joe.	Go to the homepage to see more stories.
	This was the original email received. Although this email was from Nigeria, it was unlike most Nigerian emails, as it made a direct mention of the product we were selling on our website.
	From: grace ventures ltd <graceventure_ltd@yahoo.com> Sent: January 6, 2006 Subject: GET BACK. DEAR SIR, I WILL LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU CAN YOU SUPPLY OF XXXXXX TO ME AT A VERY GOOD PRICE. THIS PRODUCT MUST BE OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARD,SO PREPARE YOUR PRODUCT LIST AND GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.THERE BE TT ADVANCE PAYMENT OF THE SELECTED GOODS. IF YES JUST GET BACK TO ME WITH DETAILS AND THE PRICES FOR THE SUPPLY OF VARIOUS PRODUCTS.GET BACK TO ME WITH PRODUCTS DETAILS AND RANGES OF YOUR PRODUCT TO ENABLE QUOTE THE PRODUCT I NEED.I WILL EQUALLY LIKE TO KNOW THE PRODUCTS YOU PRODUCE TO ENABLE ME SELECT THE ONCES THAT IS NEEDED BY THE MINISTRY. REGARDS, HARRY STEVE. ASONS INDUSTRIES LTD. 15 JUBILEE ROAD ABA, ABIA-STATE NIGERIA. 234-8056448987.
	I responded to the above email, listing the products and prices as listed on our website. The next email I received was a purchase for a large quantity of the goods we supply on our website. They stated they would pay 100% telegraphic transfer. The purchase mentioned "at sight", which I was unsure about.
	From: grace ventures ltd <graceventure_ltd@yahoo.com> Sent: January 7, 2006 Subject: PURCHASE ORDER. Dear Fanny, Thank you so much for your e-mail . your explicit honesty to do business with us is highly appreciated of which we will never let you down on this business. we sincerely believed that this is the beginning of our long term and profitable business association with your prestigeous company. The purchase order is here by attached for your reference and file mentioning 10,000 units of products as selected of 5000 each.Please send to us proforma Invoice be effected by 100% T/T telegraphic transfer for your payment AND THE PORT OF DESTINATION IS LAGOS PORT NIGERIA. Yours truly GRACE VENTURES LIMITED HARRY STEVE.	GRACE VENTURES LIMITED No.165 Jubile Road, Aba Abia- state, Nigeria. Tele; +234-80-56448987 INTERNATIONAL CORPORATE PURCHASE ORDER (ICPO) ITEM DESCRIPTION QUANITY XXXXX 5000 UNITS YYYYY 5000 UNITS GRACE VENTURES LIMITED, here by confirm to purchase the above mentioned goods from Your Company:DOWNUNDERCOMM PLC;XXXXX 5000 UNITS OF EACH SELECTED PRODUCTS while payment will be made by 100% at sight T/T telegraphic transfer. GRACE VENTURES LIMITED.
	I then replied by sending them an email which said that "at sight" of goods was not acceptable, they would have to pay a deposit to receive the goods. We rang Austrade, who advised that most Nigerian emails are scams - and that they would probably ask for some sort of payment for the goods to enter the country. We decided to proceed, opening a separate bank account to avoid problems. Hello Harry Thank you for your purchase order in your recent email. We do appreciate your business, and look forward to continued future business with your company. As mentioned in our previous email, our website generally only deals with Australia and New Zealand. All of these transactions require payment in full before goods are shipped. The same company policy will apply to orders from other overseas companies, and we note that your purchase order states – “5000 UNITS OF EACH SELECTED PRODUCTS while payment will be made by 100% at sight T/T telegraphic transfer.” We appreciate your order will be made 100% by T/T telegraphic transfer, however it is not possible for us to process and ship your order without receiving payment. T/T payment AT SIGHT of goods, is not possible as we always ask for payment in full prior to shipment for orders within Australia and New Zealand. We are prepared to process your order following the receipt of a 50% deposit made by T/T. We will then be able to ship your order following the payment of the remaining 50% balance plus shipment costs. We also appreciate that this is a substantial business order, and we are prepared to reduce our charges per unit if you are agreeable to the abovementioned terms. Please let me know how you would like to proceed. Kind regards Fanny Downundercomm Plc
	From: grace ventures ltd <graceventure_ltd@yahoo.com> Sent: January 9, 2006 Subject: PURCHASE ORDER. DEAR FANNY, THIS IS TO CONFIRM THE RECEIPT OF YOUR MAIL AND ALL THE CONTENTS WAS WELL OBSERVED AND NOTED.I WILL BEGIN TO THANK YOUR YOUR INTEREST TO DEVELOP GOOD BUSSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH ME TO ENABLE SUPPLY TO MANY COMPANY THAT REQUIRES THIS PRODUCT AND ALSO THE FACT THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO REDUCE THE PRICES,THAT SHOWS THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO KEEP THIS RELATIONSHIP AND THANKS FOR THAT. AS THE MATTER OF FACT,I INTEND TO PAY 100% T/T AFTER I MUST HAVE SEEN YOUR PROFORMA INVOICE.YOU WILL RECEIVE THIS PAYMENT IN FULL BEFORE SHIPMENT BEGIN,SO GO AHEAD AND PREPARE YOUR PROFORMA AND GET BACK TO ME WITH EVERY DETAILS AS WELL. THANKS AS I AWAIT YOUR RESPONSE AND PROFORMA INVOICE AS WELL. REGARDS, HARRY STEVE.
	We then sent them an email with a Proforma invoice. We decided to open a totally new bank account, to avoid any corruption. Hello Harry Thank you for your email confirming your understanding of our payment terms. As requested, I have attached a Proforma Invoice which provides details of your purchase, as per your recent Purchase Order. This invoice also outlines the details of the order, estimated delivery and our bank account details for T/T. As soon as payment is received we shall process your order and provide you with further information. Kind regards Fanny Downundercomm Plc
	From: grace ventures ltd <graceventure_ltd@yahoo.com> Sent: January 11, 2006 Subject: PROFORMA CONFIRMED.. DEAR FANNY, THIS IS TO CONFIRM THE RECEIPT OF YOUR MAIL AND THE CONTENT WAS WELL NOTED.AS THE MATTER OF FACT,I HAVE SEEN THE TOTAL AMOUNT AU$1,650,850.00 AND WILL GET BACK TO YOU ONCE THE PUBLIC HOLIDAY IS OVER FOR PAYMENT BY T/T.MEANWHILE,I WILL LIKE TO HAVE THE DETAIL OF YOUR ACCOUNT FOR I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE FULL DETAILS OF YOUR ACCOUNT ON YOUR PROFORMA. 1:ACCOUNT NAME. 2:ACCOUNT NUMBER. 3:BANK NAME. 4:SWIFT CODE/ROUTINE NUMBER. REGARDS, HARRY STEVE.
	Hi Harry I have updated the Proforma Invoice to include the extra bank details you required. Please let me know if there is any other information you require. Kind regards Fanny Downundercomm Plc
	From: grace ventures ltd <graceventure_ltd@yahoo.com> Sent: January 12, 2006 Subject: REGARDS. DEAR FANNY, YOUR PAYMENT IS ON PROCESS AND WILL BE COMPLETED BY NEXT WEEK TO ENABLE YOU WORK ON THE PREEPARATION TO SEND THE GOODS TO ME. REGARDS, HARRY STEVE.
	From: grace ventures ltd <graceventure_ltd@yahoo.com> Sent: January 16, 2006 Subject: REGARDS. DEAR FANNY, I HOPE THAT THIS MAIL WILL MEET YOU GOOD.THIS IS TO CONFIRM THE COMPLETE TRANSFER OF THE MONEY INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.THE PAYMENT WAS MADE THIS AFTERNOON AND WILL BE CREDITED INTO YOUR ACCOUNT I THE NEXT 48 HOURS. I WILL LIKE YOU TO BE GETTING OUR GOODS READY FOR SHIPMENT AFTER YOU RECEIVE THE MONEY.YOU CAN SEE THE ATTARCHED T/T COPY FOR YOUR VERIFICATION AS WELL.GO THROUGH IT AND GET BACK TO ME ONCE YOU CONFIRM THE MONEY INTO YOUR ACCOUNT. REGARDS, HARRY STEVE.
	From: grace ventures ltd <graceventure_ltd@yahoo.com> Sent: January 18, 2006 Subject: UPDATE ME.. DEAR FANNY, HAVE YOU GOTTEN THE TT COPY THAT WAS TO CONFIRM THAT YOUR MONEY HAS BEEN TRANSFERED.DON'T HASITATE IN PREPARING MY GOODS AS SOON AS TO CONFIRM THE MONEY. REGARDS, HARRY STEVE.
	Hello Harry Thank you, we did receive the TT copy. As yet the payment has not been received in our bank account. I have rung our bank, and they have said that coming from Nigeria it may take up to 7 days to process. Given that it is a substantial sum of money, you may wish to follow this up with your bank. I look forward to hearing from you. Regards Fanny Downundercomm Plc
	I then receive an email from the "so called" Nigeria Drug and Law enforcement agency. You will notice their email is ndlea@yahoo.com. You would expect that a government email would come from a .gov email address. This email tells me to contact Milton Joe to organise appropriate certificates for the goods to enter Nigeria.
	From: NIGERIA DRUG LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY <ndlea.ng@googlemail.com> Sent: January 20, 2006 Subject: STOP ORDER DEAR SIR/MADAM, REF:NON COMPLIANCE WITH CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE WE WISH TO BRING OF A NOTICE TO YOU THAT,THE SECURITY ADVICE OF OUR MONITORING UNIT IN ABUJA NIGERIA. YOUR FUNDS TRANSFER EFFECTED THROUGH UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC, NIGERIA.HAS BEEN PLACED ON HOLD ON OUR ORDERS BECAUSE IT WAS TRANSFERED WITHOUT THE MANDATORY CONCISE REPORT IN LINE WITH THE GUIDELINES GUIDING ALL FUNDS TRANSFERS EMANATING FROM THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA ON THE ORDERS AND INSTRUCTIONS OF 15 MEMBER ECOWAS HEADS OF GOVERNMENT . YOU ARE KINDLY REQUESTED TO CONFIRM THE RECEIPT OF THIS STOP ORDER. NOTE:YOU HAVE A MAXIMUM OF 7 WORKING DAYS FROM TODAY TO ACT ON OUR INSTRUCTIONS OR RISK LOOSING THIS MONEY WHILE LEGAL ACTION SHALL ALSO BE TAKEN AGAINST YOU IN LINE WITH OUR LEGAL MANDATE. CONTACT THE BARRISTER AS BELOW FOR THE CLEARANCE CERTIFICATES: Barrister Milton Joe ( head of chamber ) Email: miltonjoe_j@yahoo.com AS SOON AS YOU GET THE CERTIFITATE, FORWARD TO ME YOUR FUND WILL BE IN YOUR ACCOUNT IN LESS THAN 2HRS THANKS YOURS FAITHFULLY Mr. Olusola Idowu - Legal Secretary
	I contact Milton Joe to ask how we can obtain the certificates. Hello Our company Downundercomm Plc, has received an order of various devices from Grace Ventures in Nigeria. Our website is www.downundercommplc.com. We have issued Grace Ventures with a Proforma Invoice, and they have organised payment in full for their shipment. Grace Ventures have organised a TT of funds directly into our bank account (TripleF Bank), which was organised on Monday 16^th January 2006. We have been contacted by Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, and they have requested a stop order on the funds transfer, until the appropriate Clearance certificates are obtained. Can you please advise how we go about obtaining these certificates. This is a significant funds transfer and we do require payment in full before we can proceed with organising their shipment. We appreciate your prompt reply. Kind regards Fanny Downundercomm Plc
	From: Milton Joe <miltonjoe_j@yahoo.com> Sent: January 21, 2006 Subject: FILL THE AFFIDAVIT FORM DEAR FANNY, MY NAME IS BARRISTER MILTON JOE. MY CHAMBERS IS IN LAGOS AND MY JURISDICTION IS CIVIL LAW AND PROPERTY CONSULTANTS THERE BY HOLDEN FUNDS IN TRUST FOR MY CLIENTS. MY LAW FIRM IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST LAW FIRMS IN WEST AFRICA ( LAGOS) WITH OVER 30 LAWYERS ATTACHED UNDER ME THE ADDRESS OF MY CHAMBER IS # 5TH FLOOR WESTERN HOUSE, 8/9 BROAD STREET LAGOS NIGERIA. FILL THE AFFIDAVIT FORM BELOW AND SIGN WITH DATE AND SEND IT BACK TO ME FOR THE PROCESSING OF YOUR CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE . BEST REGARDS, BARR. MILTON JOE ( Head of Chamber ) TELE; +234-805-2250998
	I receive a few calls to our cell phone (mobile), which were unanswered as they came through in the evening. I respond by asking him to give me details of his company, information about the certificates as the Australian Government have never heard of them, and information about his fees.
	Hello Milton Joe Can you please provide me with details of the name of your law firm? Can you give me more information on what these certificates are about, as the Australian Government Export (Austrade) has never heard of them? What will this cost, as I am not prepared to pay for exporting to another country, as this has never been required before. Regards Fanny Downundercomm Plc
	I receive a call to our cell phone (mobile), asking me to accept a reverse charges call - I declined.
	From: Milton Joe <miltonjoe_j@yahoo.com> Sent: January 23, 2006 Subject: BARRISTER MILTON JOE ( HEAD OF CHAMBER ) DEAR FANNY, MY NAME IS BARRISTER MILTON JOE. MY CHAMBERS IS IN LAGOS AND MY JURISDICTION IS CIVIL LAW AND PROPERTY CONSULTANTS THERE BY HOLDEN FUNDS IN TRUST FOR MY CLIENTS. MY LAW FIRM IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST LAW FIRMS IN WEST AFRICA ( LAGOS) WITH OVER 30 LAWYERS ATTACHED UNDER ME THE ADDRESS OF MY CHAMBER IS # 5TH FLOOR WESTERN HOUSE, 8/9 BROAD STREET LAGOS NIGERIA. MY CHAMBER HAS BEEN ENGAGED BY FOREIGN PAYMENT, TO HANDLE THE PROCESS THE ANTI-DRUG/MONEY LAUNDERING CLEARANCE CERIFICATE AND NON- TERRORIST CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE OF YOUR PAYMENT FILE PRESENTLY UNDER UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC (UBN) ON FOREIGN PAYMENT. WE ARE AN EXPERIENCED CONTRACT LAW FIRM, AND HAVE LINKS IN VARIOUS GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES, WHICH HAS BEEN AN ADVANTAGE TO US IN SECURING OUR CLIENTS INTEREST WITHIN A SHORT TIME. AFTER MY SHORT BRIEFING WITH CHIFE JUSTICE, I NOTICED THAT WE WILL NEED THE SUM OF ( US$41,040.00 ) TO SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDE BY GETTING THE ANTI-DRUG/MONEY LAUNDERING CLEARANCE CERIFICATE NON- TERRORIST CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE. THIS FUND WILL TAKE CARE OF THE FOLLOWING FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS THAT MOST BE MADE. (1) LEGAL FEE : US$10,500 (2) DOCUMENTATION US$20,100 (3) NOTARIZATION FEE FROM FEDERAL MINISTRY OF JUSTICE US$10,440 ABOUT MY LEGAL SERVICE FEE, YOU WILL PAY HALF OF THE MONEY AND WHEN I FINISH MY SERVICE, YOU WILL PAY THE REMEANING BALANCE. FINALLY: UPON READING THIS, I WISH TO HAVE YOUR PERSONAL (IDENTIFICATION) OR (IDENTITY) FOR THE PROCESS. (A) YOUR FULL NAME (B) FULL ADDRESS (C) YOUR ACCOUNT NUMBER (D) BANK NAME (E)BANK ADDRESS THESE ARE IMPORTANT AND URGENT TO ENABLE US PROCEED AT ONCE. ALSO A COPY OF THE AFFIDAVIT FORM. YOUR URGENT RESPONSE TO THIS MAIL IS BEEN AWAITED. HOWEVER WITH THIS INFORMATION YOU CAN BE REST ASSURE YOU ARE HAVING A REAL DEAL WITH RISK FREE. THE ATTACHMENT ARE MY INFORMATION WHICH YOU DID TO HAVE TO KNOW WHOM YOU ARE DEALING WITH. YOU CAN ALSO CALL ME FOR MORE DEATILS +234-805-2250998 YOUR SINCERELY, BARRISTER MILTON JOE ( HEAD OF CHAMBER )
	I received a number of calls to our mobile (cell phone). These were received one after the other, and were from different numbers each time. Eventually I answer a call. It was a terrible line and the call dropped out. I answer the next call within a couple of minutes. It was Milton Joe, but I could barely understand his accent. I eventually tell him the line was so terrible, and I hung up the call. He another 2 times which went to our message bank. I then receive this email from the original purchaser.
	From: grace ventures ltd <graceventure_ltd@yahoo.com> Sent: January 24, 2006 Subject: UPDATE ME.. ATTN:FANNY. DEAR FANNY, I HOPE THAT THIS MAIL MEET YOU GOOD.YESTERDAY WAS EXACTLY 7 DAYS THAT YOUR MONEY WAS TRANFERED TO YOU AND I DO HOPE HPE THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED IT.UPDATE ME AND I NED TO KNOW THE STATE OF MY GOODS. REGARDS, HARRY STEVE. GRACE VENTURE LTD. 15 JUBILEE ROAD ABA. ABIA-STATE NIGERIA. 234-8056448987.
	I send him a reply telling him about the fees that we have been requested to pay. I tell him that we are not prepared to pay this money, as we have never had to do so in the past.
	End of story. I don't think Fanny heard from them again. But maybe you will?