All I require from you is Your Banking Particulars
Yeah. Uh huh. Just what kind of idiot do they think I am?
So - I received the below scam in my inbox this morning. It is quite pathetic despite the scamster's rather lame attempt to "personalize" it by giving his client the same last name as my maiden name. Like that gives it some legitimacy.
It is most unconvincing. Even to the untrained eye:
- What lawyer is going to use a TUSCALI.FR and a YAHOO account for official correspondences?
- How in the world did a person with such horrid English grammar ever end up as a lawyer? Even one for whom English is a second language? I have to believe a real lawyer whose first language wasn't English would have had the letter professionally translated and edited before sending to an English-first-language audience. What is with all the wacky and random capitalization? And those commas? (Don't get my sister started on proper comma usage!) C'mon people. Attention to detail.
- And who in their right mind would ask someone to send them such personal information via email?
Anyway - here is the letter (names have been removed but the rest, including the grammar and formatting, is unedited)
From: [removed]@tiscali.fr [mailto:[removed]@tiscali.fr]
Sent: Friday, November 12, 2004 6:27 AM
To: [removed]
Subject: NEXT OF KIN TO LATE ENGR.MICHAEL [removed].
PLEASE CONTACT ME VIA MY ALTERNATIVE EMAIL:[removed]@yahoo.co.uk
[removed] CHAMBER
{Solicitor $ Advocate}
12 Norman Williams,
Ikoyi, Lagos-Nigeria.
Dear Friend,
I believe, the innermost drive in me usually propelled by unseen and rather, benevolent forces must have inspired me to send this email to you. But nevertheless, I am sorry for the necessity to write you and to become maybe bothersome.It is in the search of a trustworthy exclusive partner to transact a deal with, that I came across your contact address.
I am Barrister [removed], I am the
Personal Attorney to Engr.Michael [removed],a national of Your
country, who used to work with Chevron Company
in Nigeria.
On the 21st of April 2002, my client, his wife and
Their three children were involved in a car accident
Along Sagamu/Lagos Express Road. Unfortunately they All
Lost their lives in the event of the accident, since
Then I have made several enquiries to your Embassy to
Locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has
also proved unsuccessful.
After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to
trace his Relatives over the Internet, to locate any
member of His family but to no avail, hence I contacted
you.
I contacted you to assist in repatriating the money In
addition, property left behind by my client before they
get Confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank
Where this huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, the
Bank where the deceased had an account valued at about
US$10Million Dollars.
Consequently, The bank issued me a notice to
provide The next of kin or have the account confiscated The
next ten
official working days. Since I have been Unsuccessful in
locating the the relatives For over 1 year now I seek
your consent to present You as the next of kin of the
deceased since you are From the same country, So that
the proceeds of this account valued at US$10Million
dollars can be paid to you and then you and me Can
share the money. 60% to me and 30% to you, while 10%
Should be for expenses or taxes your Government may
Require.I have all the necessary legal documents that
can be used to back up any claim we may make.
All I require from you is Your Telephone and Fax
Number,Home address,Banking particulars, these will be used
to obtain an Application of Claim from the bank, your
honest cooperation will be
needed to enable us see this deal Through. I guarantee
that this will be executed under A legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from Any breach of
the law. Please your urgent respond is needed to this
matter, as I will advice you contact me by my Email address
to discuss further.
Best Regards,
BARR.[removed](Esq)
PLEASE CONTACT ME VIA MY ALTERNATIVE EMAIL:[removed]@yahoo.co.uk
************************ ADSL ILLIMITE TISCALI + TELEPHONE GRATUIT ************************
Surfez 40 fois plus vite pour 30EUR/mois seulement ! Et téléphonez partout en France gratuitement,
vers les postes fixes (hors numéros spéciaux). Tarifs très avantageux vers les mobiles et l'international !
Pour profiter de cette offre exceptionnelle, cliquez ici : http://register.tiscali.fr/adsl (voir conditions sur le site)
Comments
I've gotten those e-mails a lot too lately. The most recent one was from a Hong Kong "banker" who had an Iraqi General as a client. Supposedly, the General died during the war, and had no next of kin. The kindly banker, however, had a lawyer who was willing to sign off on the necessary paperwork to make little old Me the next of kin.... all I had to do was give him my SIN so that he could make sure I was the right Sarah C. he was contacting. Right....
Posted by Sarah on November 13, 2004 10:11 AM.I saw a funny web site about retaliation against the Nigerian money laundering scammers. I will see if I can find the link...