Hanuman's advice is, of course, the best, and the most basic way to
approach this order. With money in hand (real money -- not payment
in some method that can be canceled or reversed as we have read
about lately), you may ship the jewelry. Any other conditions are
unacceptable.
For anyone considering filling such an order, please ask yourselves:
Why is this person placing a "large order" out of the blue?
What is the history of your relationship with this person?
If you don't have a relationship, consider whether you have ever
before received a large order without discussion, publicity,
consultation, shipping considerations, the whole nine years. Have
you ever had this?
We know you must have great jewelry -- but why is it suddenly in
demand in Nigeria?
It is a fact that the Nigerians are among the most intelligent and
resourceful people in the world but it is also a fact that many of
them apply those qualities to scamming other people. I have begun a
collection of letters emailed to me by the endless former wives,
children and other relatives of the late dictator and others of his
ilk that turn up on my computer with distressing regularity.
They ask me to send my bank account number. Can you imagine doing
that? Apparently many people can, have and continue to do. They
even go to Nigeria to facilitate the "$25 million payment" only to
find their very lives in jeopardy to say nothing of their bank
account balances.
Nigerians have migrated into South Africa since the end of apartheid
and are now busy scamming people there.
Substitute the words "Nevada," "New Jersey," or "Oregon" for
"Nigeria" and ask yourself: would you expect a large order from
someone you didn't know in one of those places?
Please don't fall into this trap. Don't be tempted.
Ettagale Blauer
