I got one of those dodgy emails about vast fortunes found in African bank accounts today. I can’t believe that someone’s still doing this – surely everyone knows this is a scam? (As if anyone even needs warning anyway, it’s just so utterly ridiculous). And why does this guy feel the need to SHOUT?

From felix_lamine@libero.it  Thu Mar 27 17:13:00 2003
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Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2003 11:33:52 +0100
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From: felix_lamine@libero.it
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DEAR,

I AM THE DIRECTOR OF BILLS AND EXCHANGE AT THE FOREIGN REMITTANCE
DEPARTMENT OF OUR BANK HERE IN ABIDJAN COTE D'IVOIRE.

IN MY DEPARTMENT WE DISCOVERED AN ABANDONED SUM OF US$12.500,000.00
(TWELEVE. FIVE MILLION USD ONLY) IN AN ACCOUNT THAT BELONGS TO ONE OF OUR
FOREIGN CUSTOMERS WHO DIED ALONG WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY IN NOVEMBER 1999
IN A PLANE CRASH.

SINCE WE GOT INFORMATION ABOUT HIS DEATH, WE HAVE BEEN EXPECTING HIS NEXT
OF KIN TO COME OVER AND CLAIM HIS MONEY BECAUSE WE CANNOT RELEASE IT
UNLESS SOMEBODY APPLIES FOR IT AS NEXT OF KIN OR RELATION TO THE DECEASED
AS INDICATED IN OUR BANKING GUIDELINES.

UNFORTUNATELY WE LEARNT THAT ALL HIS SUPPOSED NEXT OF KIN OR RELATIONS
DIED ALONG WITH HIM AT THE PLANE CRASH LEAVING NOBODY BEHIND FOR THE CLAIM.

IT IS THEREFORE UPON THIS DISCOVERY THAT I AND ONE OF THE OFFICIALS IN THE
DEPARTMENT NOW DECIDED TO MAKE BUSINESS WITH YOU AND RELEASE THE MONEY TO
YOU AS THE NEXT OF KIN OR RELATIONS OF THE DECEASED FOR SAFETY AND
SUBSEQUENT DISBURSEMENT SINCE NOBODY IS COMING FOR IT AND WE DON'T WANT
THIS MONEY TO GO DISBURSEMENT ACCOUNT AS UNCLAIMED BILL.

THE BANKING LAW AND GUIDELINES HERE STIPULATED THAT IF SUCH MONEY REMAINED
UNCLAIMED AFTER FOUR YEARS THE MONEY WILL BE TRANSFERRED INTO FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT AS UNCLAIMED FUND. THE REQUEST OF A FOREIGNER AS NEXT
OF KIN IN THIS BUSINESS IS OCCASIONED BY THE FACT THAT THE CUSTOMERS WAS A
FOREIGNER AND AN IVORIEN CANNOT STAND AS NEXT OF KIN TO A FOREIGNER.

WE AGREE THAT 15% OF THIS MONEY WILL BE FOR YOU AS FOREIGN PARTNER AND 5%
FOR EXPENSES INCURRED DURING THE COURSE OF REMITTANCE. THEREAFTER TO THE
PERCENTAGES INDICATED.

THEREFORE TO ENABLE THE IMMEDIATE TRANSFER OF THE FUND TO YOU AS ARRANGED.
YOU MUST APPLY FIRST TO THE BANK AS A RELATION OR NEXT OF KIN OF THE
DECEASED INDICATING YOUR BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER AND LOCATION WHERE IN THE
MONEY WILL BE REMITTED . UPON RECEIPT OF YOUR REPLY I WILL SEND TO YOU THE
TEXT OF THE APPLICATION. AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS LETTER, YOU SHOULD
CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY AND INDICATE YOUR DIRECT AND CONFIDENTIAL TELEPHONE/
FAX NUMBERS FOR THE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION REQUIRED.

TRUSTING TO HEAR FROM YOU IMMEDIATELY ON TELEPHONE NUMBER 0022507822694.

YOURS FAITHFULLY,

FELIX LAMINE
 FOREIGN OPERATIONS